Compassion Fatigue:
Compassion Fatigue:
An Overview
An Overview
John P. J. Dussich, Ph. D.
John P. J. Dussich, Ph. D.
Professor of Victimology
Professor of Victimology
Compassion Fatigue:
Compassion Fatigue:
Origins
Origins
Secondary traumatic stress was
Secondary traumatic stress was
first
first
identified in nurses and doctors
identified in nurses and doctors
in the
in the
1950s, especially associated with those
1950s, especially associated with those
who worked with severe emergencies.
who worked with severe emergencies.
Karl
Karl
Jung
Jung
called it
called it
“
“
psychic infection
psychic infection
”
”
claiming it was contagious and insidious.
claiming it was contagious and insidious.
Viktor
Viktor
Frankl
Frankl
, psychiatrist and holocaust
, psychiatrist and holocaust
survivor, metaphorically explained it with
survivor, metaphorically explained it with
these words:
Compassion Fatigue:
Compassion Fatigue:
Terms
Terms
Carla
Carla
Joinson
Joinson
first coined the term
first coined the term
compassion fatigue in a
compassion fatigue in a
1992
1992
article for
article for
nurses. She said, “
nurses. She said, “
the essential product
the essential product
they deliver is themselves
they deliver is themselves
.”
.”
Patrick
Patrick
Morrisette
Morrisette
called this
called this
phenomenon, “
phenomenon, “
The Pain of Helping
The Pain of Helping
”
”
referring it as the psychological injury of
referring it as the psychological injury of
the helping professionals.
Compassion Fatigue:
Compassion Fatigue:
History
History
The post Vietnam war era of the 70s and the
The post Vietnam war era of the 70s and the
development of victim services in the 70s and
development of victim services in the 70s and
80s identified PTSD.
80s identified PTSD.
Those who treated this problem themselves
Those who treated this problem themselves
became victims of STSD: “
became victims of STSD: “
secondary traumatic
secondary traumatic
stress disorder
stress disorder
.” Related but not the same.
.” Related but not the same.
The Modern day CF
The Modern day CF
academic
academic
guru
guru
is
is
Charles
Charles
Figley
Figley
, from FSU, but now at Tulane University,
, from FSU, but now at Tulane University,
LA to treat Hurricane Katrina and Rita victims.
LA to treat Hurricane Katrina and Rita victims.
The Modern day CF
The Modern day CF
practitioner
practitioner
guru is
guru is
Patricia
Patricia
Smith,
Smith,
with the Compassion Fatigue Awareness
with the Compassion Fatigue Awareness
Project (CFAP) in Silicon Valley, California.
Compassion Fatigue:
Compassion Fatigue:
Proneness
Proneness
Those who place the pain and suffering of
Those who place the pain and suffering of
others before themselves.
others before themselves.
Those who have unresolved past issues
Those who have unresolved past issues
with trauma.
with trauma.
Those who come from a place of
Those who come from a place of
emptiness.
emptiness.
Those who have persistent illnesses.
Those who have persistent illnesses.
Those who use helping others to fill up
Those who use helping others to fill up
Compassion Fatigue:
Compassion Fatigue:
Dangers
Dangers
It can be a high risk mental health
It can be a high risk mental health
condition.
condition.
It can cause you to also suffer from
It can cause you to also suffer from
PTSD symptoms.
PTSD symptoms.
It will cause you to suffer subtle
It will cause you to suffer subtle
stress, anxiety, and fatigue.
stress, anxiety, and fatigue.
It can render you dysfunctional in
It can render you dysfunctional in
professional and private activities.
Compassion Fatigue:
Compassion Fatigue:
Early Warnings
Early Warnings
Over involvement which causes
Over involvement which causes
more stressful conditions.
more stressful conditions.
Realizing that others take liberties
Realizing that others take liberties
with your private time and space.
with your private time and space.
Recognizing that you have less and
Recognizing that you have less and
less private time and space.
less private time and space.
Engaging in addictive behaviors:
Engaging in addictive behaviors:
drugs, sex, alcohol, etc.
drugs, sex, alcohol, etc.
Compassion Fatigue:
Compassion Fatigue:
General Healing
General Healing
Develop authentic sustainable health
Develop authentic sustainable health
care that results in good coping.
care that results in good coping.
Give from a place of abundance.
Give from a place of abundance.
Find safe, caring, regular, and
Find safe, caring, regular, and
professional opportunities so that
professional opportunities so that
you are debriefed and counseled.
you are debriefed and counseled.
Discuss with your supervisor and
Discuss with your supervisor and
peers the need to be monitored.
Compassion Fatigue:
Compassion Fatigue:
Specific Healing
Specific Healing
Set priorities with your own time.
Set priorities with your own time.
Periodically “unplug” or “disengage” from
Periodically “unplug” or “disengage” from
care giving commitments.
care giving commitments.
Decide when to turn off: beepers; home
Decide when to turn off: beepers; home
phones; computers; and cell phones.
phones; computers; and cell phones.
Set clear boundaries in both private and
Set clear boundaries in both private and
professional relationships.
professional relationships.
Compassion Fatigue:
Compassion Fatigue:
Organizational Support
Organizational Support
Discuss CF issues, and your own problems, with
Discuss CF issues, and your own problems, with
supervisor.
supervisor.
Get with peers and create a CF peer support
Get with peers and create a CF peer support
group.
group.
Promote Care-giver Rights: to be respected for the
Promote Care-giver Rights: to be respected for the
work you do; adequate pay for your work;
work you do; adequate pay for your work;
appropriate time off to recover; to receive
appropriate time off to recover; to receive
organizational help.
organizational help.
Helpful Website:
Helpful Website:
www.compassionfatigue.org
www.compassionfatigue.org
Helpful Books:
Helpful Books:
Compassion Fatigue
Compassion Fatigue
, C. Figley; and,
, C. Figley; and,
