In this post, we explore compassion fatigue. What exactly does this condition entail? Who is susceptible to it?  How can we practice self-care in a generation so dependent on social media, where bad news is just one click away? 

What exactly is compassion fatigue?

As the name suggests, compassion fatigue is a term for both the physical and emotional exhaustion that leads to a decreased ability to empathise or feel sympathy for others. Also referred to as ‘secondary traumatic stress,’ those who experience compassion fatigue may feel slowly overwhelmed by others’ trauma– almost as if they have no more empathy left to give.

What are the symptoms of compassion fatigue?

• Aside from reduced feelings of empathy, the Canadian Medical Association lists the following symptoms of compassion fatigue: 
• feelings of helplessness
• detachment or emotional disconnect from others’ hardships 
• loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
• increased negative emotions such as anxiety, sadness, anger and irritability
• withdrawal and self-isolation
• difficulty sleeping, concentrating, or making decisions
• headaches, nausea, and dizziness.

As we can see, the symptoms of compassion fatigue are diverse and can manifest both physically and mentally. 

Who is susceptible to compassion fatigue?

Compassion fatigue can affect many different types of people, but is most prominent among healthcare workers such as doctors, paramedics, therapists, and vets. A 2017 Nursing Times study found that nearly 50% of nurses in acute medical care hospitals in the UK had “moderate to very severe” levels of compassion fatigue. 

However, people in other ‘helping’ occupations, such as firefighters, police officers, journalists, social workers, teachers, and informal caregivers, can also experience this condition. The American Bar Association notes that lawyers who must examine accident scenes or graphic evidence can also experience compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue is a condition that can impact a wide range of individuals but is mostly seen among those who are exposed to distressing situations.

Compassion fatigue and Social Media

Previously regarded as a condition for those in niche industries, compassion fatigue is becoming more prevalent among people regardless of their professional occupation. Why? Social media. 

Five minutes on Twitter, Facebook, or any other social media platform is more than enough to expose us to live updates on the world’s worst news. War in Ukraine, seemingly endless rising COVID-19 cases, femicide in Mexico, violent attacks against LGBTQ community in Iraq… the list quite literally goes on and on. Previous generations are different from us as they probably weren’t this connected to the international community. War, mass violence, injustice; what used to take days or even weeks to reach local newspapers now spread in a matter of minutes. All it takes is one click, and you’re in. 

Doomscrolling on social media

“Doomscrolling” is a recent slang word combining ‘doom’ and ‘scrolling’, which refers to spending endless amounts of time looking for and absorbing negative news online and on social media applications. 

It existed even before the COVID-19 pandemic, but grew in popularity in the last two years. Feeling trapped in their homes due to local quarantines, many turned to social media to connect with their loved ones. However, many felt entrapped once again at the sight of gruelling daily news—this time both local and global. If not our homes or our phones… where else can we escape?

Prioritising the self and prevention of compassion fatigue

While it is true that to engage with world affairs effectively we should (and must!) show empathy, compassion fatigue increases the chances of us falling into apathy. The repetitive cycle of graphic pictures and videos is bound to make us shut ourselves out, regardless of whether we want to. Our subconscious works to protect us and detaches itself if we fail to be conscious of self-preservation and self-care.

Although compassion fatigue can feel inevitable– here are a few action steps to take towards prevention:

• Take occasional breaks from social media- you’d be surprised at how effective it is in helping us feel better.
• Be wary of doomscrolling
• Learn what self-care looks for you and practice that!
• Run fact checks: before sharing a post, cross-check your sources for credibility to prevent misinformation. Studies have shown that spreading fake news and images can contribute to increased compassion fatigue, both in ourselves and others.

Final takeaways

It is near impossible to display an equal amount of interest in each and every local and global issue- our brains are quite literally not built to demonstrate that amount of empathy. 

So, be kind to yourself. It is okay to take breaks. It’s okay not to know every little detail about everything happening right now. It’s okay just to feel a bit tired of everything. Experiencing compassion fatigue does not result from a lack of empathy or sympathy; rather, it means you are human. 

Don’t let it discourage you from engaging in social causes you care for. You will always have the chance to re-engage when you feel up to it again!

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