Worrying about others can harm yourself

The phrase was first introduced in 1992 by American nurse Carla Joinson, to describe the physical, emotional, and psychological experiences experienced by healthcare workers after long periods of caring for patients.

Visible signs of this compassionate fatigue include headaches, mood swings, irritability, unwillingness to go to work, and lack of joy in life.

Being too empathetic or caring too much about the feelings of others can also make us tired or exhausted.

In recent years, the term "compassionate fatigue" has been used to describe the feeling when we are too empathetic, putting so much energy into the needs of others that we forget to take care of our own or our own. my feeling. In the 24 hours that someone has to meet the demands of a job and become a compassionate member of society, empathy and a desire to help others can be exhausting at times.

What is compassion fatigue?

As psychotherapist Natalie Jones (California, USA) explains, when you put too much empathy on someone or something, you try to carry on, and then become exhausted. It's easy to get caught up in the hurt and stress of others and not be able to adequately take care of your own life. The worst thing is that in the end, you become paralyzed and give up.

What are the signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue?

Symptoms of compassion fatigue can manifest in many ways, affecting the mind, body, and spirit. According to Dr. Jones, basic signs include low energy, difficulty concentrating or managing one's own moods, selfishness in working for oneself, becoming irritable, a desire to separate from family and friends. , colleagues, difficult to sleep, difficult to balance work and private life.

Compassionate fatigue is a form of burnout. According to the American Institute of Stress Research (AIS), this state is a form of secondary trauma, defined as the emotional residue or stress of working with people who have suffered as a result of traumatic events.

How to combat compassion fatigue?

The best way is to be mindful of your own energy, your own space, says Dr. Jones. The key is to set boundaries between yourself and your friends, family, work, and social media. She recommends seeing a therapist, finding friends to share them with, and working through the guilt of not being able to spend time with others.

In addition, you should spend 15 minutes a day writing in a journal, reading a book, or participating in group activities that you find comfortable instead of pleasing someone.

Dr. Jones also advises against taking on too much work. Do what you have to do, end it at the right time to rest. Need to learn how to delegate tasks to others, instead of handling it all alone.

In addition, you should check your relationships with friends and family. Analyst: "Consider people who just drain you of energy. Allow yourself to distance yourself from that relationship. Next time, if a family member or friend asks you to. Do something that makes you feel exhausted, say: 'I'd love to help you, but I can't do it'. You can also actively ask them to help you, to see what their attitude is."

The last thing that experts recommend is to limit your use of social networks. Need to limit the time and amount of news you surf each day to only about 15 minutes, instead of letting it go.

Compassionate fatigue is something most people will experience. However, Dr. Jones said: "You have to remember that you can't pour water from an empty cup. You need to take care of yourself before you can be kind to anyone."