Compassion Fatigue Arises from Pandemic

Is your ability to empathize or feel compassion for others who are suffering becoming diminished? This could be a condition brought on through emotional and physical exhaustion and that has been referred to as the “negative cost of caring.” It is also known as secondary traumatic stress (STS).

Compassion fatigue, however, is the term most commonly associated with this lowering of one’s ability to feel empathy or compassion for another’s illness or misfortune. And it is a professional hazard among health care practitioners, especially, in this once-in-a-century period of pandemic.

Compassion fatigue is often the result of dealing directly with victims of illness, disasters and/or trauma and may also affect palliative care workers, social workers, journalists, firefighters, law enforcement officers, school counselors and veterinarians. But non-professionals, such as informal caregivers and family members of people who have long term health conditions are subject to the phenomenon of compassion fatigue, too.

Compassion fatigue is a phrase initially coined in 1992 by author Carla Joinson to identify the detrimental impact hospital nurses were experiencing due to their repeated exposure to patient emergencies. The symptoms of compassion fatigue can include lowered concentration, numbness and/or feelings of helplessness, irritability, lack of self-satisfaction, withdrawal, physical manifestations such as aches and pains and/or increased absenteeism from work.

The statistics are staggering. Up to 85% of health care workers in a range of functions, from paramedics to hospice workers, experience compassion fatigue and this data is from surveys collected prior to the ravages of COVID-19. As a result of compassion fatigue, an increase in addictive behavior has been noted among health care practitioners and caregivers. These behaviors include increased cigarette smoking, greater consumption of energy drinks, use of antidepressant medications and anti-anxiety drugs.

Nevertheless, there are more wholesome interventions available to address compassion fatigue. Foundational to this issue is institutional support. A so-called culture of silence tends to promote compassion fatigue among practitioners and other caregivers. A network of support and encouragement of communication is essential between and among health care workers and caregivers.

Additionally, one tried and true technique that may provide some relief from compassion fatigue is the ancient practice of mindfulness. It’s been documented that students who completed a 15-week course that emphasized stress reduction techniques and mindfulness showed measurable improvements in relationships and communication skills. Mindfulness is the deliberate practice of engaging the body, feelings, states of mind and experiential phenomenon to become more aware and accepting of the trying circumstances that will surely be encountered among health care professionals and caregivers.

At this challenging juncture in our health care predicament, it is vital to be mindful and caring to those with whom we work, interact and care for.

Dr. Ben Miles, in addition to writing for the Beachcomber Newspaper, teaches critical thinking courses to aspiring nurses at West Coast University, Orange County.