People whose professions lead to prolonged exposure to other people's trauma can be vulnerable to compassion fatigue, also known as secondary or vicarious trauma; they can experience acute symptoms that put their physical and mental health at risk, making them wary of giving and caring.
What Is Compassion Fatigue? (Plain Language Explanation)
Compassion Fatigue refers to a pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that many people experience. While it can be challenging, it's also well-understood and treatable.
Key Terms to Know About Compassion Fatigue
- Symptoms: The specific ways compassion fatigue shows up for you
- Triggers: Situations or thoughts that activate or worsen compassion fatigue
- Evidence-based: Treatments backed by scientific research
- Comorbidity: When compassion fatigue occurs alongside other conditions
3 Things Most People Don't Know About Compassion Fatigue
- Compassion Fatigue is far more common than most people realize
- Compassion Fatigue is not caused by weakness — it has identifiable biological and psychological causes
- Most people with compassion fatigue see significant improvement with the right support
Your Next Steps
Learning about compassion fatigue is just the beginning. If you think you're experiencing compassion fatigue, speaking with a mental health professional is the most valuable next step.