Compassion fatigue is a set of symptoms, not a disease.

Compassion fatigue and its kin, such as secondary traumatic stress, PTSD, empathic distress and vicarious trauma, create issues in our lives. Providing authentic, sustainable self-care daily can help manage and lessen the disruptive issues associated with compassion fatigue.

The origins of compassion fatigue most likely took hold during our formative years. Surviving a dysfunctional childhood aids in creating behaviors and patterns that can lead to high levels of compassion fatigue in caregiving. Studies show that children who suffer Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) such as alcoholism, physical abuse or mental abuse, are at risk for future violence victimization, chronic health conditions, low quality of life and even early death. When we are put in the position of caring for others at an early age, we learn to put the needs of others before our own needs. Additionally, we grow up lacking strong personal boundaries, experience an overdeveloped sense of responsibility, and carry the unresolved trauma within.

While there is no silver bullet to “cure” compassion fatigue, authentic, sustainable self-care daily can help manage the symptoms. Learning and practicing new life skills is also necessary to become self-directed as opposed to other-directed. Providing authentic, sustainable self-care daily can help manage symptoms such as isolation, emotional outbursts, sadness and apathy, persistent physical ailments, and recurring nightmares or flashbacks.