For anyone in the helping professions, compassion fatigue is a common occurrence and a clear signal to take better care of your own needs. Compassion fatigue is when you find yourself challenged to care about your patients in the way you know is proper and expected in your position. One of the key components of quality health care is the ability for you to connect with your patients and for them to sense that connection. Compassion fatigue cuts you off from the people who need you the most, and it extends well beyond just your patients.
Cynicism, sarcasm and feeling put upon are the first signs. If you find yourself being cynical or sarcastic about your patients, you may have compassion fatigue. It can come in the little voice in your head, or mumbling under your breath, or "venting" to your colleagues or staff. If you find yourself feeling like your patients/staff/institution are deliberately trying to wear you out or drive you crazy, you may have compassion fatigue.
Your emotional bank account is empty
Being a doctor or other helping professional is the perfect compassion fatigue formula. Caring for others with difficult, often chronic illnesses can be a draining emotional experience. Think of yourself as having an emotional bank account. You simply can't get to the end of an office day with the same amount of emotional energy in your account as when you started. Your job is draining, even on a good day. It is up to you to recharge your emotional bank account on your own time. That's where the double whammy hits.
Read more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dike-drummon...
Posted By: Jen Fad
Wednesday, December 25th 2013 at 2:09PM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
