Identifying Compassion Fatigue

Identifying “Compassion Fatigue”

My Beloved has a tremendous opportunity to help those that are coming back from war who are wounded.  Many of these are not actually physically wounded, but are experiencing varying degrees of PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 

While meeting with the chaplain of the wounded soldiers, My Beloved came to understand that the greatest need in this area is the staff members who work with the wounded soldiers.  “My staff really needs help,” the chaplain told him.  “They are constantly dealing with those who are high need, and when one group has sufficiently recovered and moved on, another high-needs group takes their place.  My staff is constantly dealing with individuals in crisis, and they are experiencing Compassion Fatigue.”

I have never heard of the term “Compassion Fatigue” before, but I have heard of, and experienced “Burnout.”  In my life, I have experienced both “Home School Burnout,” and “Ministry Burnout.”  These were times when I was pouring out, pouring out, and pouring out, and never able to take enough in to retain my sanity.  Looking back, they were some of the hardest times of my life.

I have buried one of my own babies, lost my own mother to the grave, and through tears sold most everything that I owned and moved hundreds of miles away from anyone I knew and loved in order to minister.  But through those times, I was undergirded by the support and love of my family and felt the presence of the Lord.  Those times seem to have been easier to deal with than the awful loneliness of feeling like I am running on a treadmill and can’t get off.  It is in times of hopelessness that we experience “burnout,” or “compassion fatigue.” 

As mothers, we are always doing for others, giving to others, and pouring out of our own lives.  What happens when we reach the end of our resources?

I know in my life, some of the symptoms of Compassion Fatigue are:

–          Withdrawal from others

–          Constantly physically tired

–          Absent-minded

–          Preoccupied

–          Unable to think through simple tasks

–          Distaste for group situations, especially regarding noise

If you or someone you love is experiencing some or all of these, take a few minutes to pour yourself a cup of relaxing tea, prop your feet up, and read what God did for Elijah in 1 Kings 19.