Beth M. Broom, LPC-S, CCTP-II
Without compassion, I don’t imagine any of us would make very good helpers. We are fueled by the love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14), which spurs us to action on behalf of those who are suffering. When we are moved with compassion, we mirror the heart of Jesus and reflect God’s character. But what happens when our compassion runs thin? What should we do when we become exhausted in the work of caring for sufferers?
We are human. We do not have an endless supply of energy or motivation. Yes, the Holy Spirit empowers us, but he does not expect us to extend ourselves beyond human capacity. In fact, the Lord has designed our bodies, minds, and emotions to have limits. He doesn’t want us to be ‘god-like’ in our abilities. Only he gets to be limitless.
‘Compassion Fatigue’ is a term that denotes an exhaustion and preoccupation with the suffering of others. The term can sometimes be synonymous with ‘vicarious trauma’ or ‘secondary traumatic stress.’ The list of symptoms have been compiled through careful observation of people helpers in the fields of medicine, mental health, crisis intervention, and first response (police, firefighters, and emergency response personnel). If you don’t know the symptoms, they may sneak up on you. You may not notice them until you are on the verge of burnout. And just as Proverbs 4:23 teaches us, we need to keep our hearts with vigilance, because the springs of life flow from them. Paying attention to our bodies, minds, and emotions will help us to remain steadfast in the work of ministry.
Everyone gets tired when they care for sufferers. But Compassion Fatigue happens when fatigue gives way to apathy. We become exhausted in the work of caring for others, and our ability to nurture is diminished. And this can diminish our ability to provide Christ-centered care. We can become critical or cynical of people. We can forget the joy of the work and slide into hopelessness.
What factors contribute to Compassion Fatigue?
Do you find that you sometimes feel overwhelmed by people’s stories? If you don’t, I would be surprised. People have experienced awful things. When they tell us their stories, it can sometimes remind us of our own stories. Or we can begin to wonder what we would do if their story was our own. When this happens, our emotions, minds, and bodies are overtaxed. We also struggle to stay focused on the other person when we begin to think about ourselves. This is a common factor that can lead to Compassion Fatigue if it continues to occur.
Are you a ‘fixer’? If you are someone who loves to solve problems, that’s a gift. But in the field of people-helping, there are so many things we cannot fix. And we definitely cannot fix people. If we try, we will fail. And that sense of failure can lead to exhaustion. So if you tend to over-focus on what you should be doing to make progress happen for those you help, you might be prone to Compassion Fatigue. Or maybe you blame yourself when someone doesn’t make much progress. This can also lead to great discouragement.
Do you have trouble saying ‘no’? If you’re someone who feels responsible for others or has a great need to be needed, you might say ‘yes’ too often. You might overextend yourself and move beyond your God-given limits. This can also move you toward possible Compassion Fatigue.
What are the symptoms of Compassion Fatigue?
Here are just a few of the many possible symptoms of Compassion Fatigue:
- Increased physical struggles: digestive issues, sleep problems, headaches, body aches, or unexplained medical conditions
- Psychological struggles: pessimism, cynicism, intrusive thoughts, numbing, or loss of self-worth
- Emotional struggles: anger, irritability, outbursts, dread, overwhelm, hopelessness, or defensiveness
- Spiritual Struggles: difficulty with or avoidance of time spent with God and/or Christian community, losing sight of priorities, or difficulty trusting or believing in God’s character
- Professional struggles: imposter syndrome, rumination on failures or insecurities, reduced productivity, or difficulty with concentration
- Relational struggles: withdrawal from relationships, dehumanization of self or others, depersonalization, or curt/hasty communication with others
What can help decrease Compassion Fatigue?
If you notice any of these struggles in yourself, it’s a good idea to take some time to reflect. As with all possible struggles, we model David’s prayer in Psalm 139:23-24:
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
As you pray and ask the Lord for wisdom, consider reaching out to a trusted friend, colleague, or counselor. You are never meant to handle these struggles alone. The Lord is near, and he has provided his children with the Body of Christ to help bear our burdens (Galatians 6:2).
We also want to resource you further in the area of Compassion Fatigue, so we have created a free webinar that will help you think about ways to prevent Compassion Fatigue and seek to grow in perseverance. This webinar is available by clicking HERE. We also encourage you to click HERE and utilize our tool for gauging your holistic health. This tool can be given to a counselor, pastor, or friend for the sake of setting goals for growth.
May the Lord establish the work of your hands and give you perseverance in your ministry to sufferers.
