Compassion Fatigue

Compassion fatigue is a state of emotional and physical exhaustion that results from the sustained cost of caring for others who are suffering. The term was introduced by Carla Joinson in 1992 in the context of nursing and further developed by Charles Figley, who described it as the 'cost of caring' for those in emotional pain. It is distinct from burnout, which arises from workplace stressors, in that compassion fatigue specifically involves a reduced capacity for empathy and compassion.

Compassion fatigue affects individuals in caregiving and helping roles — healthcare workers, therapists, social workers, first responders, teachers, and informal caregivers. Symptoms include emotional exhaustion, reduced empathy, irritability, difficulty separating work from personal life, intrusive thoughts about others' suffering, sleep disturbances, and a diminished sense of meaning or satisfaction in the helping role.

Prevention and recovery from compassion fatigue require intentional self-care and boundaries. Evidence-based strategies include maintaining a regular self-care practice, setting appropriate emotional boundaries, developing self-compassion (as researched by Kristin Neff), seeking peer support and supervision, balancing caregiving with personal fulfillment, and practicing mindfulness to process emotional experiences rather than accumulating them. Recognizing compassion fatigue as a natural consequence of sustained empathic engagement — rather than a personal failure — is an important first step.