Overcoming Compassion Fatigue for Caregivers

Caregiving, while extremely rewarding, can also be overwhelming at times. Caregivers are responsible for the health and safety of their patients and loved ones who can not care for themselves on their own. Over time, if left unchecked, this heavy responsibility can take an emotional and physical toll on anyone, leading to compassion fatigue.

While compassion fatigue is not a disease that can be diagnosed, it can take a toll on a caregiver’s daily life.

Here are some signs that you may be experiencing compassion fatigue:

• Increased anxiety
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Loss of patience
• Apathy
• Feeling emotionally drained, overly tired or overwhelmed

It’s important to realize that experiencing fatigue as a result of caring for another person does not make you weak or a bad person in any way. However, it is important to take steps to take care of yourself immediately.

In order to care for someone else, you must first take care of yourself. As the old adage says, “you can’t pour from an empty cup.”

Here are our top tips for caregivers for how to overcome compassion fatigue:

• Take a few minutes every day to ground and recenter yourself.
  A popular grounding technique is the 5-4-3-2-1 approach. This technique calls on your five senses to bring you into the moment. You’ll need to think of 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste. Performing this simple exercise can reduce anxiety and help you clear your mind for a few minutes so that you can focus on things more clearly.
  
  
• Prioritize your own health.
  Healthy habits are not just for the person you are caring for! It’s absolutely critical that you are getting a good night’s rest every night, sticking to a healthy diet and exercising on a regular basis.
  
  
• Join a caregiver support group.
  Make sure that you have a healthy avenue to work through your frustrations and stress. A support group is a great way to share your experiences with people who understand and will not judge you.
  
  

Being a great caregiver is more than just taking care of others - you need to also take care of yourself! If these tips don’t help, be sure to speak with a mental health professional and/or your doctor.