Is It Burnout or Something Else? Helping Healthcare Workers and First Responders Understand Compassion Fatigue

Given the high-stress environment that includes packed workdays, time pressure, and emotional intensity, it is a common experience for first responders and healthcare workers to experience burnout. You might even use this phrase yourself, but what does it really mean to be burnt out? And more importantly, is there something else going on besides burnout? 

In this post, we’ll cover:

• What burnout is
• Why first responders need to know the signs of compassion fatigue
• What to do if you’re burned out

Burnout or Compassion Fatigue?

Burnout is defined as a long-term stress reaction that is marked by physical exhaustion and a feeling of a lack of accomplishment ^[2].

Nearly anyone in a stressful situation can experience physical and mental symptoms of stress, physical exhaustion, and a lack of sense of accomplishment. However, because their work frequently puts them in a position to see unimaginable suffering, it is not unusual for healthcare providers and first responders to experience these symptoms in excess. This is called compassion fatigue. Some first responders and healthcare workers even absorb the emotional stress and trauma of those people that they are helping.

This is especially true in the current care environment created by the concurrent pandemic and community unrest.

Many healthcare workers and first responders have begun filling a dual role to their patients: care provider and emotional support person. Many care providers are filling in for families, who are unable to be a part of their loved ones’ final moments, to provide comfort and support. This type of emotional investment and compassionate care places them at increased risk of compassion fatigue.

However, given the current need for long hours, increased number of shifts, and increased workload during shifts, many providers mistake symptoms of compassion fatigue for simple burnout. Denial is perhaps the most detrimental symptom of compassion fatigue, as it leads providers to not seek help due to believing that they are simply exhausted ^[1]. 

Signs and Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue

Denial is a detrimental symptom of compassion fatigue, but it’s not the only symptom. Some common symptoms of compassion fatigue include the following:
• Feeling burdened by the suffering of others or blaming others for their suffering
• Isolating yourself
• Loss of pleasure in life
• Irritability or sadness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Insomnia
• Physical and mental fatigue
• Physical ailments, such as headaches or stomachaches
• Feeling that you have no outlet for your emotions
• Increased nightmares
• Feelings of hopelessness or powerlessness
• Decreased job satisfaction
• Overeating or poor appetite
• Excessive use of drugs or alcohol
• Decreased or poor self-care
• Complaints from others about your work or attitude
• Denial

How to Check-In With Yourself: Are You At Risk?

If you are a healthcare worker or a first responder, it’s important to check in with yourself and watch for signs of compassion fatigue. You can recover from burnout and compassion fatigue, but it’s best to catch it early, if possible.

Some questions to ask yourself:

• Is my stress getting in the way of living my life (Is my daily functioning altered?)?
• Did a work experience feel out of the ordinary or feel like it overwhelmed my ability to remain calm and neutral?
• Do I find it hard to separate from work once the shift/workday is over? Do thoughts and memories of my day impinge upon my time off?
• Do I feel like I accomplish less during the day, even when I feel like I am working harder?
• Do I find myself becoming easily frustrated, irritated, or annoyed, especially in response to situations or triggers that previously did not elicit such a strong reaction?
• Do I experience compassion in the extremes (i.e. little or no compassion toward some people while becoming overly involved with others)?
• Do I find myself feeling bored or disengaged from my work?
• Do I find myself suffering from mild physical ailments, such as headaches or minor colds, more frequently than before?

WHAT YOUR ANSWERS MEAN: If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may be suffering from compassion fatigue rather than burnout.

As a caregiver, it is vital that you find balance between care for others and care for yourself. Placing more focus on others places you at increased risk of compassion fatigue; however, caregivers frequently struggle to know how to care for themselves.

8 Ways to Restore the Balance in Your Life

Below are some tips for how to find and keep balance in your life.

1. Practice self-care.

Good self-care involves taking care of your physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Make sure to eat well, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep. Do not allow yourself to become isolated. Make time to engage in social interactions with people with whom you do not work. Ask yourself daily who is one person that you could reach out to and call them. If applicable, continue to attend religious worship services. Gatherings of your religious community are helpful in finding a continued sense of purpose and support.

2. Make sure to nurture yourself.

Find time daily to engage in activities that are a source of pleasure and distraction from the stresses of your day. Make this self-nurturing time a priority. It may be helpful to make a top 10 list of activities that bring you joy.

3. Allow yourself to take multiple mini-breaks during your workday.

Take a walk, leave the premises on your meal break, or just sit in your car for 15 minutes. It is important to take short escapes from the stresses of your workday.

4. Attempt to divert focus away from the negatives of the work and focus on the positive impact of your work.

Find what brings purpose and meaning to your job and find the things that you are grateful for.

 5. Focus on what you can control and try to let go of things that you cannot control.

Write it down on paper if that helps you to visualize it.

6. Find someone to talk to and with whom you feel that you can share your pain and suffering.

However, avoid commiserating with coworkers. In this situation, misery does not love company.

7. Avoid self-medication with drugs and alcohol.

If symptoms are impairing your functioning (i.e. poor sleep), seek out professional medical treatment to address these concerns.

8. Seek out professional help.

Many people who are suffering from compassion fatigue need the help of professional coaches, counselors, or therapists to get back on track. Many employers have employee assistance programs just for this purpose. Find out what services your employer and/or insurance provider offers.

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About the Author

This post was written by Monica Clark, LPA.

You can request an appointment with Monica here.

References:

1. Bourg-Carter, Sherrie. 2014. High Octane Women. Psychology Today. Retrieved from
   https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/high-octane-women/201407/are-you-suffering-compassion-fatigue
2. Physician Burnout. Content last reviewed July 2017. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality,
   Rockville, MD. Retrieved from https://www.ahrq.gov/prevention/clinician/ahrq-works/burnout/index.html