Burnout & Compassion Fatigue
Burnout and compassion fatigue are sometimes used interchangeably but they
are different and I'll explain how.
are different and I'll explain how.
Burnout is a process that happens over time when you feel a responsibility to help others while also not doing enough to help yourself. The imbalance of caring energy out vs. caring energy coming in causes emotional exhaustion and withdrawal in order to recuperate. Burnout is not trauma related.
~ The American Institute of Stress
Compassion Fatigue comes from being around the traumatic stories and experiences of others. When you find yourself hearing about others' horrible experiences and through empathy and compassion feel the strain of having been exposed to their suffering, this is compassion fatigue. It can exist along with burnout but different from burnout, it happens because of exposure to others' trauma. Compassion fatigue can come from one trauma story or can be a cumulation of repeated trauma story exposure.
~ The American Institute of Stress
While burnout develops over time it's often helped by adding some serious self-care and understanding the currency of energy output to input which I can help with.
Compassion Fatigue has a much more rapid onset and has a quicker recovery time if it's recognized and helped early. An important step in helping compassion fatigue is finding someone to talk to!
I can help!
I can help!
