Reconsidering Burnout

COMPASSION FATIGUE

Caregivers can experience compassion fatigue when caring for others who have lived through trauma. Those who experience compassion fatigue take on the trauma of the students they care for which can lead to stress and mental and physical exhaustion.

“The good news is that it doesn’t last forever.

Everybody’s been there before. Maybe you’re in that long stretch after spring break and feel like you just don’t have much more to give. Maybe you feel exhausted and that there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. Often, we call it burnout, and this may be exactly what it is. Sometimes these feelings can indicate something that seems similar, but that is, at its core, very different. Sometimes, what we’re feeling is called compassion fatigue.

Compassion fatigue, much like burnout, File photo provided by Wes-Del Community Schools. is accompanied by feelings of stress and exhaustion. You’ve likely felt that before, but with compassion fatigue these feelings are caused by how intensely you care about those who are suffering from the impact of trauma or are under significant emotional distress. It’s often accompanied by mental and physical exhaustion and can sometimes lead you to withdraw emotionally from the things that matter to you. BURNOUT RECONSIDERING While burnout is often the culmination of exhaustion and helplessness, compassion fatigue is often the result of taking on the trauma MOMENTFOR YOU of the students you are serving. It comes from working to understand students’ suffering and becoming absorbed in their trauma. It comes from tireless and QUICK TIPS FOR CONFRONTING COMPASSION FATIGUE

CONNECT WITH COLLEAGUES Find trusted peers to help you bear the load. EXPLORE RESOURCES Find materials to enhance awareness and inspire self-care.

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SPACE Clarify boundaries and be intentional about what you take home at the end of the day. PRIORITIZE EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING Remember you must make sure that you are at your best to help your students get there as well.

unending effort and a failure in prioritizing self-care.

School staff members care deeply about their students. Through this caring, we are exposed to trauma that students are facing every day.

Examples of trauma might include poverty, grief, family problems, hunger, racism, illness, neglect, or any number of other traumatic experiences. Far too often, we take these traumas home with us in the evenings and on weekends, and allow them to become draining in our lives. “This feeling can be debilitating. Compassion fatigue often comes with a feeling of being burdened by the hardships of others. Those who work with youth often experience, but with compassion fatigue, this feeling can be debilitating. Those facing compassion fatigue can often feel isolated and disengaged as they begin to take on some of the same feelings of helpless when we feel that we could be doing more for students. Maybe most problematic, compassion fatigue can lead school staff to feel guilt or shame for taking pleasure in things when children are not able to. This can lead to a self-perpetuating cycle that is difficult to break.

Compassion fatigue can have a great impact on quality of life. But the good news is that it doesn’t last forever. School faculty and staff who are able to refocus on self-care may find that making time for the things that bring joy may help curb compassion fatigue. Meaningful and restful sleep can help break the cycle. Listening to music, journaling, and regular exercise are just some of the ways to cope with compassion fatigue and begin the process of moving forward. It can often be a difficult task, but working to reduce stressful workloads is important in combatting compassion fatigue.

A DEEPER DIVE RESEARCH AND RESOURCES

Professional Quality of Life Questionnaire Provides feedback about compassion fatigue, burnout, and stress for anyone who spends a good deal of time helping others.

intoolkit.com/qlquestionnaire

Secondary Trauma Self-Care Packet Tools and strategies to help create individual and schoolwide plans to promote staff self-care and resilience.

intoolkit.com/selfcarepacket

Compassion Fatigue Resources The National Association of Case Management has put together an exhaustive list of quality resources to learn more about compassion fatigue.

intoolkit.com/cfresources

File photo provided by Inspire Academy.

File photo provided by Wes-Del Community Schools.