Is 2021 Causing Compassion Fatigue? Find out how to overcome it today!

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Is 2021 Causing Compassion Fatigue? Find out how to overcome it today!

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By LISA SCHAEFER

“I am so tired! When will this be over? I am not sure I have enough energy to do anything”. These are comments that I have been hearing in coaching sessions. People are often telling me they are feeling burned out. For the past three months, I have been experiencing some of these same feelings. In my perception, it seems as though we are starring in a 2020 version of the movie Groundhog Day.

Waking up every morning to hear about more COVID deaths, more debate and disagreement over whether to mask or not to mask, to vaccinate or not to vaccinate, to everything is fine – just get over it. Day in and day out it is causing some of us to feel apathy towards everything.

When I was getting my degree in school counseling, I remember a professor talking about compassion fatigue syndrome, or what some call STS (secondary traumatic syndrome). It is when you feel physically or emotionally exhausted from caring about others or concerned about the traumas others are experiencing. It has often been referred to as the “cost of caring”, where you hear or see so much trauma from others that you may lose compassion or empathy. It can be seen often with health care and human service professionals and even reporters who are constantly hearing the trauma of others.
 

But Compassion Fatigue is becoming more common because every time we turn on the TV, laptops, and smartphones we are inundated with tragedy and trauma. Everyday conversations focus on debate, uncertainty, or fear. Are you in denial, and say you are FINE (feelings inside not expressed), but in reality you want to run away to an island where you don’t have to “people today?”

You may need an intervention for Compassion Fatigue.

 

According to the Mayo Clinic, signs to look for include:

 
  • Feeling burdened by the suffering of others
  • Blaming others for their suffering
  • Isolating yourself
  • Loss of pleasure in life
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Physical and mental fatigue
  • Bottling up your emotions
  • Feelings of hopelessness or powerlessness
  • Frequent complaining about your work or your life
  • Overeating
  • Excessive use of drugs or alcohol
  • Poor self-care
  • Beginning to receive a lot of complaints about your work or attitude
  • Denial

What can you do?

 
One day a week do a Digital Detox. Leave all devices alone for just 24 hours.
 
Realize what you have control over and what you don’t have control over. The only thing I have control over is how I either react or respond to others. When we focus too much attention on trying to change others, it will overwhelm and exhaust us.
 
Take an attitude of curiosity if someone disagrees with you. Don’t automatically make a negative judgement. Ask questions to learn their perspective.
 
One of the other big things I encourage people to do is ASSUME positive intent. Most people don’t wake up in the morning saying, “I can’t wait to say something to offend someone. I can’t wait to ruin a person’s day.” Most people don’t intend to offend. Having the discussion and setting up boundaries for yourself will help you minimize the frustration.
 
Give yourself a break. Take an hour a day to do something you love and give yourself some grace. We have all been experiencing a pandemic and trauma is common among all of us. Take time to reflect on what is working and what you have control over and let the rest of the junk go!
 
Keep Shining!
 
Want to learn more about compassion fatigue, take the assessment at ProQOL Measure.

“Be there for others, but never leave yourself behind.”

—Dodinsky

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About the author

Lisa Schaefer

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Lisa empowers and encourages people to find their inner SHINE.  Using humor, props, and crowd participation, each session with Lisa helps participants identify their strengths and get rid of their negative stories in order to find joy in all aspects of life.

As a certified John Maxwell Leadership coach, Lisa’s highest objective is to help you reach your purpose, vision, and goals. Together, we will create a strategic, powerful plan for you to gain clarity in your leadership.

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