"Compassion Fatigue"

I heard this phrase a couple of months ago. You know, it was on one of those seminar flyers that fill you mailbox. “Compassion Fatigue” caught my eye. I had to chuckle to myself…what is it? Basically, the conference was about “burn out” in helping professions (mental health, nursing, medical and spiritual). Are you tried of hearing the same old story? Have you lost your patience, “lost that lovin’ feeling”? Are you spent because you have been seeing clients back to back and you have nothing left!! Do you want to scream, “Stop calling me”?!! You threaten that you are going to “lose it”.

If you are feeling this way, maybe it’s time for some self-compassion. How are you taking care of yourself? We are all the same. We all have feelings, we all need support, and we all need breaks, to breathe the sun of a warm day and the smell of warm bread. We all respond to these things as human beings. Have compassion for yourself. This is where it starts…if it means taking a day to go to a seminar to remind yourself that you are not alone, you are important, you are making a difference and you can ask for what you need then do it! Often times I have found myself in this space, when I have been doing some particular duty for too long without a change. If you can make a change, even if it’s small (flex hours, swap duties with someone else that would like some variety in their job duties, TAKE a break and do all the things you tell your clients to do for themselves) this might help. You will be happier and so will the people you are working with.