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Compasion Fatigue heard an interesting discussion on this subject on the radio... and so many folks suffering these days with it ...often we get over loaded into burn out mode so much to do daily so little time often
Overburdened Nurses and Home Carers come to mind ...
Not sure why my original thread has been held up nothing untoward in it , this is thread no 2 on the subject, please ignore the original one when it finally pops up
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I can relate to this
if you have someone with long standing health condtions who are suffering they unburden it onto the one caring or the nearest and dearest..
It can be waring listenening over and over again...
You then feel guilty if you stay out the way for a few hours to have a break..
CG
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Burn out can often be caused by worry and in this financial climate it's no suprise...
If you are busy it doesn't neccesarily mean to say you get exhausted. You can do a hard manual job, be very tired but your body will recover but if your mentally active even when you're supposed to be resting that's another matter.
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TC you have that spot on...
when I have finished a working shift i am tired, knackered !!
but that is a healthy tiredness ...
mentally warn out through worry erc is more exhausting ...
After a hard day work you can sleep like baby
after a hard days worry..or .stress you lay awake thinking, worrying and stressing more
cg
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I think this is were the burn out comes into play as it tends to effect those who suffer high levels of stress.
Two years ago I had both familly issues and work related problems that combined to knock me completly out of keel. Last year I was rough with this virus but couldn't take any time off. Once I did the illness hit me hard as my body just didn't have the strength to fight it.
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Well like the old saying
hard work never killed anyone
but stress can
Know where you are coming from TC,,,
Have a sick famiy member,,,stressful job changes ...add it all up and you are a jibbering wreck lol
well not quiet... lol
cg
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Its happened to me in caring situations so im inclined to give and give and then run on empty.. and then get irritable /tired and ratty with everything .. loss of joy factor me time ,even depressed / feelings of powerlessness /helplessness, to go on supporting and helping/ brings up fears and anxiety for ones own future prospects .. can be a soul destroying experience. tendency to feel failure for the lack of staying power , and ability to relieve the persons suffering and guilt too , especially if the person/s has no one else to rely one for support and only you and you alone and your getting no respite either ... so extremely hard
Recently i have take a backward step of retreat, just to replenish and recharge..now still in caring mode again
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Caring in a team is not as wearing as caring alone at home ,in a domestic situation
I do realise caring in a team is no bowl of cherries either these days ,with lack of resources in Nursing
Homes for the Elderly or Nursing Hospital Ward Situations .. moral can run at an all time low all around..
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What actually happens is; depending on the person you are; is that you force yourself through and keep the illness away purely by the power of the minds reaction to stress. Then when everything calms down it comes at you like a wave and you just do not have the strength to fight it.
I don't know if there is a recognised medical/physcological link but I know what effects me lol..
Also ithink sometimes if you're constantly exposed to emotive situations such as being a carer when things are not al they should be, if that also has a physical effect for the same reason.
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Whilst not wishing to dis the contributions of other posters as I well understand the difference between tiredness after a hard days work, or play, and the absolute drain of listening to people or caring for people who your'e not in a position to help effectively. But I thought Compassion Fatigue was something about people turning off when faced with yet another disaster, either manmade or natural and not giving money to charities who provide relief?
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That's always been my understanding of the term as well WH. It happens when we are constantly bombarded with images and requests for donations. Daytime Tv is a prime example. One charity request after another. People get to the point where they simply don't 'feel' anything anymore when confronted with yet another appeal or disaster.
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I think it also applies to constantly giving of oneself... as an example constantly caring for a sick or disabled person when you feel drained , and know you should give more and more maybe expected , but you have become barren / empty ,to giving anymore to the point of your own exhaustion and burn out
This was a Christian Programme that i was listening, it was saying Christian people always feel they have to give to the point of hurting , suffering themselves and denying themselves ...therefore Compassion Fatigue sets in
Maybe it can now be applied to different areas of life[ Compassion Fatigue that is ]
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dpk, I don't think that giving relentlessly of oneself is exclusively Christian and its certainly not something practiced by many of the people proclaiming to be Christians that I've met. Theres plenty of non religious people who do this too, go to the self help section of any bookshop and look at all the books for people who can't say no whenever they're asked to help. Its often a problem of self esteem as much as anything else.
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