HOW TO RECOGNIZE IT – #BellLetsTalk
I started blogging as a coping mechanism. A creative outlet for the almost daily upsets experienced by animal-welfare advocates. As much as I deflected and emptied my emotions through these written words, I seemed to attract ten times as much negativity in the course of each week interacting with people in the real world. Knowing how much I care about animals, it seemed people felt compelled to share the most horrific stories with me. As if I am somehow immune or, during my years of volunteering, I must be void of emotions. Although I felt my emotions were, at times out of control, that was not the case!
© Soloviova Liudmyla / Adobe Stock
It seemed each time I turned on the news there was a heartrending story relating to animals: abduction, abuse, house fires resulting in death, etc. Some stories would haunt me for days, and I would start crying at the thought of it.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?
My husband urged me to take a break from it all: the writing, the reading and research, and volunteering. No chance. Advocating and Volunteering gives me a sense of purpose and makes me feel that, in a small way, I can contribute to making a difference.
I am blessed to have an incredible support system in place. After deciding this can’t be what every animal-welfare advocate feels, I reached out to this group of amazing people and soon learned I had been suffering from ‘Compassion Fatigue.’
Compassion Fatigue is the deep physical, emotional, and spiritual exhaustion that can result from working day to day in an intense care-giving environment
– Figley & Roop, Compassion fatigue in the animal-care community, 2006
Also, I am grateful that, as a volunteer, I have access to workshops provided by the shelter. When they listed an afternoon learning about Compassion Fatigue, I made sure my name was on the list. Our host Dr. Stoewen, DVM, MSW, Ph.D is the “Care and Empathy Officer and Director of Veterinary Services” for Pets Plus Us , and is an expert on the topic.
I want to share this information with you so that you will recognize the signs. In yourself, or in others.
When people feel powerless, they become vulnerable. What makes us vulnerable? We’re human beings. It’s human nature.
Is it compassion fatigue or burnout? Burnout results from stress at work. People suffering from burnout can usually bounce back after having a weekend off from issues at work. If they are not able to switch off from the day to day frustrations, they may be left with a sense of low personal accomplishment and the minor stress that causes burnout can escalate, contributing in some cases to compassion fatigue.
Burnout may be caused by:
-problems with coworkers
-job loss (financial security)
-demotion
Characteristics of burnout:
Emotional & Physical Exhaustion:
you may feel overloaded with pressure, tired and lacking energy.
Avoidance & Alienation:
as you become more frustrated with your job and the work environment, you may develop a cynical attitude feel that you are no longer able to trust your coworkers. During this time you may feel alienated or choose to distance yourself emotionally and physically from your work and coworkers.
Diminished Performance & Negative Attitude:
Daily tasks at work, and home, including caring for family members can be affected. People experiencing burnout find it difficult to concentrate, tend to be negative about duties, are less innovative and may be lethargic.
If you aren’t able to leave work behind at quitting time it might be time for a change of environment – or job, to prevent burnout from escalating!
It can become a vicious circle. The overlap of any of the following, in any combination, and in any amount can contribute to Compassion Fatigue.
© Soloviova Liudmyla / Adobe Stock
Examples of Traumatic Stress:
Primary:
-personal pain, trauma, or loss
-death of a loved one (including animal companions)
-separation/divorce
-car accident
-alcoholism/addictions
-major disease diagnosis
-mental illness
-family violence
Secondary:
-dealing with someone else’s trauma, pain, and loss
-animals
-customers
-each other
Examples of Cumulative Stress:
Professional:
-intense workplace demands and stress
-long hours
-inability to achieve work-related goals
-unmet expectations
-boredom with routines
-powerlessness
-staff discord
Personal:
-intense family demands and stress
-family conflict
-personal health problems
-financial concerns
-housing difficulties
-social isolation
(Mathieu, The Compassion Fatigue Workbook, 2011)
Depending on each person’s coping skills, and mental health, some people are more vulnerable to experiencing compassion fatigue. Depression can be a symptom of full-blown compassion fatigue.
Compassion Fatigue is the natural consequent behaviors and emotions resulting from knowing about a traumatizing event experienced by a significant other – the stress resulting from helping or wanting to help a traumatized or suffering person (or animal)
– Figley, Treating Compassion fatigue, 2002
Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue may include:
-personality change
-reduced sympathy and empathy for others
-Mood swings, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts or gestures
-anger and irritability
-being easily startled
-negative self-image
-lethargy, physical and emotional exhaustion
-memory loss, forgetfulness
-loss of efficiency and reliability
-indecision
-inappropriate judgement
-interpersonal problems
-tearfulness
-unpredictable work habits and patterns
-becoming accident prone
-excessive time at work OR
-increased sick time and time away from work
-alcohol on the breath
-heavy ‘wastage’ of drugs
-physical deterioration
-customer and staff complaints about changing attitude or behavior
-increasing personal and professional isolation
-skepticism, cynicism, embitterment, and resentfulness
-avoiding certain animals, customers, & euthanasia (in the shelter and veterinary worlds)
-some people experience self-denial (soldier mentality)
The Consequences:
Physical: headaches, gastrointestinal upsets, and chronic pain and fatigue
Mental: mood disorders (anxiety and depression), eating disorders, dissociative disorders, personality disorders, and addictions (smoking, alcohol, and gambling)
Professional Competence: poor interpersonal relationships and compromised (animal) care.
Organizational Welfare: spreads like a contagion to the detriment of the workplace climate and outcomes.
Vocation: premature job changes, and different career path.
(Mathieu, The Compassion Fatigue Workbook, 2011)
Compassion fatigue has driven both promising and seasoned professionals out of their professions entirely, permanently altering the direction of career paths
– Mitchener & Ogilvie, 2002
In my next post I will be outlining the Compassion Fatigue Process, how to manage it and turn our experiences into ‘Compassion Satisfaction.’
It can really take it out of you. I still wonder what coping mechanism Jasmine’s vet has, as he still cares and still manages to survive that.
Veterinarians are incredible individuals. I also wonder how they cope.
What an insightful post – thank you! I found it really interesting to read about the different types of stress and their effects – it’s really not surprising that those people who care for others including pets, and those involved in animal rescue are high on the list of those impacted.
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I’m glad you liked it.
It is difficult not to let the cruelty and pain that shelter and rescue volunteers are exposed to take a toll on their emotions I am so glad to know that you have a support group to help. Thank you for the work you do. ♥
You’re part of that group xx
This is such a great post, you’ve explained it very well. CF is very real. you see so much you can become overwhelmed with it all. I experienced this twice in my life, once as an animal shelter volunteer and once as a result of something else that made me feel horrified and hopeless. As I receive solicitations from charities, both human and animal organizations, I store them up and later go through the process of choosing which ones I can donate to. After one of these incidents I stormed over to my stack of charitable solicitations in a fit of anger and ripped them all to shreds. I was so angry and had such a feeling of hopelessness. I felt like “Why Bother?!” The next week I felt better and donated to a few of them online. I don’t know why it made me react in that way, it was so strange. In retrospect it made no sense to react that way when I should have felt the desire to do the exact opposite! I really look forward to reading your Part 2 blog post.
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Cathy Armato recently posted…5 Steps to Planning for Blogging Success
Often, it is not just ‘one thing’ that makes us react. That’s why it’s good to find things that create balance. Thank you for sharing your experience as many will be able to relate.
They put on a local workshop for veterinary professionals on how to to deal with compassion fatigue. They have a high burnout rate. I’ll be interested to read your tips!
Tenacious Little Terrier recently posted…My Dog Training Inspiration or Ode to Fenzi Dog Sports Academy
That is an incredible group of people. I’m glad they have workshops for them.
Thank you SO much for bringing awareness to such an important topic that not many people ever realize is “real”. It’s SO real! It’s part of the reason I know I need to limit my animal rescue aid to “fluffy” things like coat drives and fundraising — I’m too prone to something like CF. I really love this series you’ve been working on; it’s so refreshing to see posts about mental health on a dog blog. I know a lot of my “internet dog friends” from a few different communities suffer from various mental health struggles and it’s so great to acknowledge and discuss it. Many of my friends with anxiety or depression gravitate to dogs because — as dog people know — they help so much! Thank you!
Thanks Rochelle. Yes, I like to share information for the person at the other end of the leash too. If we don’t care for ourselves we can’t take the best care of them. And for the record, you do so much good even if it is ‘fluffy’!
What a fantastic article, eye opener for so many thank you. Now I know I am not the only one that feels this way sometimes and I think for me one of my therapies is when I take Layla for walks or dog park I do not use any electronics for the entire time so it gives me time to clear my head and step away from the world.
Once again thanks
Be one with nature (and your fluffy companion). Love it!
This is one of the most important topics in the animal welfare community. I use to work as a tech and compassion fatigue was felt by every single member of our staff every single day. During the holiday months it was worse than ever, I’m pretty sensitive and I would go home and cry after work. I couldn’t handle the emotional exhaustion that comes with so many aspects of the job. XO for writing about this.
Wow! That would be difficult. Thank you for sharing your experience.
You are definitely not alone in feeling compassion fatigue. All of us that love animals find ourselves in a place of hopelessness at some point. The truth is that we can’t save them all. Sometimes there are forces beyond our control. The best we can do is not always enough. It takes good support from other people and within yourself (and in my case I include God). We have to come to the realization that this is common to all of us and we are not personally at fault for any of it. I find blogging to be a great way to put my feelings out there too. Sometimes they pour over just a little too much.
I felt a huge sense of relief just knowing I wasn’t the only one that felt the weight of that emotion. Having others to talk to is very important. Thanks Robin.
I ended up in the ER over the holidays from stress- my blood pressure suddenly went up very high and I happened to find out as I went to give blood because my neighbor was dying of leukemia and there was a drastic shortage of my type (He passed this week and ironically maybe saved me). They could not find anything wrong but I am relaxing this week. I assume it was a combination of one nasty disturbed person harassing on my blog, business stress, hearing too many sad stories, too many injustices and not spending enough time on me.
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I’m so sorry to hear about your neighbor and that you’ve been having a tough time. I hope you feel better for taking some time for yourself xx
Thanks for the insightful post about compassion fatigue and different types of stress. As a pet lover, I was feeling like you sometimes but didn’t imagine how bad it will influence our life like what you’ve shared.
Mary@Swimming Pool recently posted…Best Pool Water Test Kits Reviews – How to Test Pool Water
It’s good to be aware so that you can keep an eye on your energy levels and emotions. Balance is key.
I am glad that there is help for people suffering from compassion fatigue! It must be so draining to witness all the stress and sadness of animal rescue up close. I’m glad that you didn’t have to take a break from advocating for animals, but I’m happier that you are finding ways to deal with the stress. It is so important to take care of yourself!
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Thank you Beth. Much appreciated.
The term ‘traumatic’ stress infers some sort of life altering event….often times, that is not what traumatic is. It’s subtle. And so we understand the need to be patient, calm, loving and understanding. Bless your heart!
Rebecca at MattieDog recently posted…How To Make Sweet Potato Ice Cream For Your Dog
Indeed, it looks different for each person.
Compassion fatigue affects pet people and human people. It is not helped by those idiot ‘chgger’s charity muggrs who manipulate people in the street into signing up for ‘giving’ to a ’cause’ We need to balance and moderate so we give what we can, or share online, or encourage and help. A person is no good to anyone if they are overtired, and overwrought.
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You’re right. We can’t help others if we don’t first care for ourselves.
What a wonderful post. I attended a workshop on compassion fatigue. It’s so hard sometimes working in an industry that has so much trauma and horrible stories. Thanks for this post.
Tonya Wilhelm recently posted…Strawberry Chia Ice Cream for Pets, Dogs, Cats and Us
Yes, it is hard. We have to take time to top up our energy.
It’s so important for people to recognize and take seriously the invisible, yet painful ways they might feel fatigued or stressed. Thanks for bringing attention to this topic.
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I hope this post helps.
Wow! You definitely wrote this for me! I’m going through a lot of changes in less than 3 months and I’m hoping my stress level and lifestyle will change for the better.
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Please check back with us. There will be posts on fun and positive ways to create this much needed balance.
It can really take a toll on you, i know i was in a miserable state 5 years ago when i lost Prince i just immersed myself with work which didnt really help. The sanest thing to do was when i just took some time out to energize and deal with my loss,
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I’m so glad you took the time. I know you are doing great things in Prince’s honour.
I never knew that it was called compassion fatigue. Good to know! Thanks for bringing awareness to this.
My pleasure!
I so needed this post right now. Thank you
I’m so glad it found you!
I know so many folks who can relate to this post. In fact, I do a lot with dog rescue and had to take a mental break. I just felt like I was torn up inside, you know. I really have respect for those who work on the front lines with animals day in and day out and give it their all.
I do know. I’m glad you took a step back.
Also happy that you’re back as you are a fabulous advocate, Carol!