Running head: MANAGING COMPASSION FATIGUE BLOG 1

Managing Compassion Fatigue Blog

“Compassion fatigue refers to the emotional and physical exhaustion that can affect

helping professional and caregivers over time” (Figley, 2012). These professionals or caregivers

are at risk for exhaustion, burnout, avoidance, and numbing. When a caregiver’s needs are not

being met, that individual will have a difficult time providing for others. “If we don’t fill up

ourselves, we have nothing left to give others” (Ted Talks, 2017). Patricia Smith spoke about

five different risk factors for those who may develop compassion fatigue. The three risk factors I

will discuss are impulse to rescue anyone in need, other-directedness, and lack of strong personal

boundaries.

For the risk factor, impulse to rescue anyone in need, I would rate myself at a higher risk

for developing compassion fatigue. I have always felt a sense of responsibility to help others,

especially when they are in need. I go out of my way, even if it puts them before me, just so that

I can do what is necessary to help them through their situation. While I always thought that this

was a good trait to have, the older I get the more I realize that it is difficult to help others if I am

not helping myself first. This leads into the next risk factor, other-directedness.

I would also rate myself at a higher risk for developing compassion fatigue when it

comes to other-directedness. There are many times where I have felt selfish for not putting others

before myself. To the point where I will run myself ragged if it means that I am helping others

when they need it. This is especially true now that I am a mom. I have put myself last more times

than I can count since my sons were born. I feel an immense amount of mom guilt if I put myself

before my children, even in the smallest of matters like getting myself ready in the morning

before getting them from their rooms. This is something that I need to consistently work on, or I

will experience compassion fatigue a multitude of times.

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The last risk factor is a lack of strong personal boundaries. Now, if you had come to me

about 4 years ago, I would have said that I was at high risk for compassion fatigue. However,

since becoming a mother I have put up very strong personal boundaries, so I would rate myself at

low risk for this category. I learned over the years that when you have children, and even just

when you get older, that you do not have time for people or events that do not positively

contribute to you and your families’ lives. I used to waste a lot of time people pleasing the wrong

people that never added something positive to my life. Since putting up boundaries, I have been

happier and less burnt out in this area of my life.

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References

Figley, C. (2012). Basics of Compassion Fatigue. Figley Institute. Retrieved from

http://www.figleyinstitute.com/documents/Workbook_AMEDD_SanAntonio_2012July2

0_RevAugust2013.pdf

Ted Talks. (2017). How to Manage Compassion Fatigue in Caregiving. YouTube. Retrieved

from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7keppA8XRas.