Combating Compassion Fatigue

Combating Compassion Fatigue
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Compassion fatigue arises from the prolonged exposure to negative situations of patients. Nurses observe the suffering and stress that patients undergo, and often become overwhelmed to the extent that they experience a sense of hopelessness (Frandsen, 2010). It is defined as a state of intense emotional instability characterized by psychological and physiological impacts as a result of caring for people with terminal conditions. The caregivers are unable to compartmentalize their emotional investment and engage in countertransference where they are extremely engrossed in patient’s suffering (Bush, 2009).
Caregivers require identifying the warning signs for compassion fatigue in their early stages. Some of the signs include an obsessive tendency to show one’s ability, working harder than usual, ignoring one’s personal needs, failure to address the deep seated stress factors, increased skepticism and aggression, alcohol and substance abuse, isolation from social circles, feelings of internal vacuum, and depressive state (Frandsen, 2010). Person’s suffering from compassion fatigue should also stay vigilant in identifying signs such as prolonged states of fatigue, nightmares about patients, relapsing from physical exercise activities, frequent anxiety and fear bouts, feelings of inadequacy, unmerited anger, and despair (Bush, 2009).
One of the most important prerequisite of compassion fatigue is empathy. The caregiver focuses on the patient’s feelings and makes and emotional energy investment. This emotional investment contributes to the caregiver’s gradual plunge into stress which overtime graduates to compassion fatigue (Lynch & Lobo, 2012).The problems associated with compassion fatigue evolve gradually as the caregiver’s efforts at achieved positive health outcomes for patients fail. When their interventions prove unsuccessful, caregivers experience distress and feel guilty. Caregivers develop interpersonal relations with patients and they work even harder in an attempt improve their health outcomes. The futility of their efforts leads them to experiencing emptiness, distress and guilt.
Some of the problems of compassion fatigue include anxiety, inability to sleep, emotional numbness, increased absenteeism from work, unbelief in religious faith, having a fear to go to work, reduced self-efficacy, impaired judgment, and short concentration spans (Perry, 2010). These problems emanate from the daily exposure to life threatening situations without adequate formal psychological debriefing. Caregivers require emotional and psychological care to assist them to deal with the emotional toll that their work takes on them (Boyle, 2011).
It is reported that caregivers that display a higher tendency for empathy towards a patient is more vulnerable to compassion fatigue. Caregivers who are exposed to unending suffering, those with memories related to patient’s suffering, and those that experience drastic unforeseen changes also have a higher likelihood of suffering from compassion fatigue. The caregiver is unable to adopt a positive perspective and progress away from the stressful feelings. Caregivers working in hospices are also vulnerable to compassion fatigue especially if they get limited support from colleagues, supervisors and social networks when their patients die. Additionally, caregivers that ignore daily spiritual reflection have a higher risk of compassion fatigue. Caregivers with personality types that incorporate the ability for resiliency and hope are better able to cope with stressful events and avoid suffering compassion fatigue (Sabo, 2011).
Compassion fatigue creates physical needs such as fatigue, exhaustion, diseases of the cardiovascular system such as high blood pressure, gastrointestinal problems, headaches, insomnia, muscular tightness, body weight or loss, and increased pulse rate. Manifestation of some or all of these physical needs is a sure indicator of existing or impending compassion fatigue in a care giver. The emotional needs may include pessimism, patient depersonalization, withdrawal from previously pleasant activities and social circles, fear and anxiety, chronic overthinking about patient’s problems and depression. These emotional needs may impact the caregiver’s competence in objective problem solving. Spiritually, the caregiver’s needs may include a decreases trust in divine ability of their deity and the alteration of beliefs concerning healing. This has consequences such as loss of the ability for pleasure and experiencing joy where one is in a prolonged sad state (Lynch & Lobo, 2012).
Compassion fatigue depletes one’s energy to the level where one feels without anything else to offer. They drown in apathy and eventually lose interest in offering care which can be observed through depersonalized care without eye contact, kindness or interest in the patient’s wellbeing (Douglas, 2010). At this point, it is important that one engages in activities that restore a balance in work and life. Some of those activities include getting enough sleep and rest, engaging in pleasurable activities and meals, seeking professional d...