MENTAL HEALTH

Dealing with compassion fatigue and burnout

Sep 9, 2019, 11:29 PM | Updated: Sep 10, 2019, 5:35 am

(Credit: istockphoto.com/PeopleImages)...

(Credit: istockphoto.com/PeopleImages)

(Credit: istockphoto.com/PeopleImages)

SALT LAKE CITY – Psychiatrists and other counselors say compassion fatigue is a common problem among nurses, first responders and doctors, but, can it be a sign of a much bigger problem?

To be honest, the reason why I pitched this story to my editors is because I misunderstood what compassion fatigue was.  I thought it was just when one person loses compassion or empathy for others.  I was wrong about that.  Counselors say what I was thinking of sounds more like “burnout.”  Doctor Karen Checketts says the symptoms can seem very similar, but there is a difference.

“The difference between the two is having that secondary trauma vs. not.  So, you can be burnt out and a lot of the symptoms are very overlapping, for sure,” Checketts says.

Secondary trauma is common among anyone who helps other people deal with traumatic events.  Frequently, these people take on the emotional weight of others for so long that they eventually don’t have any more support left to give.  Checketts believes most people have some sort of secondary trauma in their lives.

And… to be even more honest… I pitched this story because I thought something was wrong with me.  I find myself not caring about the problems of others, and I think I used to be a very compassionate person.  I really noticed this lack of empathy after both of my parents passed away within the last year.

I told Checketts, “My sisters were talking about how much they were missing our parents, and things like that, and I just wasn’t.  I was like, ‘Is something wrong?  Am I broken inside?’  I used to care, and now I kind of don’t.”  Checketts responded, “I think part of it is that you haven’t learned how to care [for others] and also take care of yourself.  That’s common in compassion fatigue.”

Checketts says there is a long line of symptoms that could be a sign of this kind of problem.  They include lack of desire to exercise, absenteeism at work, being more cynical, anger toward your supervisor and less connection to your spiritual beliefs.

Plus, it could lead to other problems.

“I think that if you don’t treat compassion fatigue you’re going to get more lonely.  You become more predisposed to depression and anxiety,” she says.

Also, it isn’t just the person that has burnout or compassion fatigue that feels the negative impacts.  Child psychologist, Dr. Douglas Goldsmith, says it can seriously impact a person’s relationship with their family.

“We talk to families in therapy all the time where they will say, ‘We have some parents coming home in a bad mood, and we’re starting to avoid them,” he says.

However, there are ways people can build up a resiliency to compassion fatigue.  Goldsmith says therapy and meditation work well, and, if it’s the job that’s dragging you down, it may be time to consider leaving.

“If it has become day-to-day, humdrum stuff and I’m angry about it, I need to find a way out of that.  It can be through new education, new learning, new responsibilities, more responsibilities or, in many cases, less responsibilities,” according to Goldsmith.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Today’s Top Stories

Mental Health

(Canva)...

Michelle Lee

How, and why, a hobby can bring joy to your life

If it brings you pleasure, is meaningful, and you can do it regularly, you've got yourself a hobby! Here's why they can benefit us so much.

11 months ago

...

LEANNE ITALIE AP Entertainment Writer

Mommy blogger Heather Armstrong, known as Dooce to fans, dead at 47

Armstrong had laid bare her struggles as a mother and her battles with depression and alcoholism on her site, Dooce.com, and on social media since 2001.

11 months ago

A giant A and I are pictured -- would an AI chatbot replace human interaction?...

Samantha Herrera

Combatting loneliness with AI? It may be a slippery slope

As AI technology continues getting more and more sophisticated, there's a concern that something like a chatbot could replace real social interaction.

11 months ago

tiktok logo is shown, kids' social media use is under scrutiny from health officials...

Peter Johnston

APA urges adults to limit kids’ social media use

Kids' social media use should not be without guidance and oversight from parents, an advisory from the American Psychological Association said.

11 months ago

(Canva)...

Michelle Lee

Managing stress as a new parent

What causes the stress, why mothers tend to worry more than fathers, and how new parents can work together to help manage that stress.

11 months ago

The U.S. Surgeon General announced this week that loneliness is a genuine health risk. shutterstock...

Mark Jones

Experts say loneliness is now a public health epidemic

A professor from BYU joined KSL at Night to explain the findings in a recent report that says loneliness is a public health risk.

11 months ago

Sponsored Articles

close up of rose marvel saliva blooms in purple...

Shannon Cavalero

Drought Tolerant Perennials for Utah

The best drought tolerant plants for Utah can handle high elevations, alkaline soils, excessive exposure to wind, and use of secondary water.

Group of cheerful team members high fiving each other...

Visit Bear Lake

How To Plan a Business Retreat in Bear Lake This Spring

Are you wondering how to plan a business retreat this spring? Read our sample itinerary to plan a team getaway to Bear Lake.

Cheerful young woman writing an assignment while sitting at desk between two classmates during clas...

BYU EMBA at the Marriott School of Business

Hear it Firsthand: 6 Students Share Their Executive MBA Experience at BYU’s Marriott School of Business

The Executive MBA program at BYU offers great opportunities. Hear experiences straight from students enrolled in the program.

Skier being towed by a rider on a horse. Skijoring....

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking for a New Winter Activity? Try Skijoring in Bear Lake

Skijoring is when someone on skis is pulled by a horse, dog, animal, or motor vehicle. The driver leads the skiers through an obstacle course over jumps, hoops, and gates.

Banner with Cervical Cancer Awareness Realistic Ribbon...

Intermountain Health

Five Common Causes of Cervical Cancer – and What You Can Do to Lower Your Risk

January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness month and cancer experts at Intermountain Health are working to educate women about cervical cancer.

Kid holding a cisco fish at winterfest...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get Ready for Fun at the 2023 Bear Lake Monster Winterfest

The Bear Lake Monster Winterfest is an annual weekend event jam-packed full of fun activities the whole family can enjoy.

Dealing with compassion fatigue and burnout