Compassion Fatigue

Compassion fatigue is real mental health challenge that affects most nurses at some stage in their career. It comes from the stress of caring for others repeatedly; caring deeply about other people or animals can hurt, especially when things don’t go to plan.

Many care givers often end up caring so much about others that we forget to care for ourselves and overlook important daily needs like exercise, food, enough sleep or a mental break to get away.

The RSPCA identified a range of tools to help its employees avoid compassion fatigue, focusing on three areas: self-assessment, self-awareness, self-care.

It urges its employees to take time out daily, put themselves first, set boundaries, schedule time for relaxation and play, establish work-life balance, laugh, learn breathing techniques and prioritise the fundamentals of self-care—a good diet, adequate exercise and sleep.

The most important thing you can do for yourself is begin to look after and prioritise your own wellbeing again. Many of us are great at scheduling appointments for doctors, but tend not to schedule in activities that relax and restore us. When it comes to mental health connections with others including our pets, is critical.

You can explore a range of self care tools and strategies throughout this wellbeing section of the website.

Links to more information:
https://www.compassionfatigue.org/

Compassion Fatigue or Burnout?