Nothing lasts forever, not even the warmest, most noble of sentiments. Compassion leads us to sacrifice for the welfare of others, but compassion fatigue leads us to abandon our sacrifice.
As of late, it’s become trendy to use the label of compassion fatigue to justify a lack of follow through on fervent statements of commitment to activist causes. While it’s the thing to do, many people will jump on the bandwagon, and give support to a popular cause, only to forget about the cause after it slips out of the limelight. This thin level of attachment isn’t true compassion fatigue, however. It’s merely the consequence of a superficial commitment.
True compassion fatigue occurs among those who work regularly with people who are suffering from trauma. It’s a kind of secondary reaction to trauma in which a person witnesses so much pain and struggle that their sensitivity to suffering becomes numbed. In addition to the expected symptoms of physical exhaustion, those experiencing compassion fatigue often feel a sense of hopeless anger and an inability to appreciate the emotional attachments they have outside of their work. People with compassion fatigue often misdirect their feelings, lashing out at their children, divorcing their spouses, abandoning their friendships, or even turning their shadow against themselves, committing suicide.
