Compassion fatigue refers to the condition in which an individual grows less and less sympathetic to a particular circumstance over time. For example, an individual who is caring for a terminally ill family member may find it harder and harder over time to provide support and care for that person due to the emotional toll it has taken on them.
Examples of compassion fatigue
Caused by a job in which the individual must care for a large number of ill people over an extended period of time.
There are a variety of acute symptoms associated with compassion fatigue. Although these symptoms vary from individual to individual, they commonly include:
Compassion Fatigue in the workplace may be experienced by nurses, doctors and other caregivers who are responsible for treating the sick – both psychologically and physically. In some instances, these once-caring workers will actually become verbally or physically abusive towards their own patients – unable to cope with non-stop stress of their careers.
Several careers are at a particularly high risk for compassion fatigue, including:
Men and women of the police department and fire department
Veterinarians and veterinary assistants
Teachers and youth counselors (especially those dealing with special needs children or working in poor, underprivileged areas).
Rescue workers who are constantly thrown into the line of fire
Dentists and dental professionals
What is compassion fatigue treatment?
Compassion fatigue treatment involves counseling the individual in order to help them cope with the symptoms of the disorder, and find solutions moving forward that will help them be better caregivers. The programs generally involve group or individual counseling.
Compassion fatigue treatment for an entire nation
Individuals are not the only ones who can fall victim to compassion fatigue. When the issue in question is a particular news story or charitable cause, an entire country can suffer from the condition. Say, for example, that a young girl is kidnapped. At first, as the story is initially reported by the press, there is an outpouring of sympathy for the girl and her family. But as time goes on, and the story receives more and more coverage, the population begins to experience compassion fatigue – they care less and less about the girl in question, not because they are bad people, but because the act of caring so much for so long leaves them “exhausted.”
The importance of compassion fatigue treatment
Compassion fatigue treatment is important for those people who experience overwhelming depression and negativity as a result of the condition. These symptoms may keep people from providing proper care to those who need it most, be it a family member or a patient/client.
Located in Santa Monica, California, Moonview Sanctuary offers compassion fatigue treatment for individuals who need the strength to carry on. The caring staff at Moonview understands the importance of treating the mind, body and spirit in order to improve the lives of their patients. Contact Moonview Sanctuary today for more information about their Transformational Health program.