Compassion Fatigue & Burnout

Compassion Fatigue

 An emotional residue of exposure to working with the suffering, particularly clients suffering from traumatic events  Work-related, secondary exposure to extremely stressful events.  Onset is RAPID

Signs & symptoms

 Exhaustion  Reduced ability to feel sympathy & empathy  Anger & irritability  Increased use of alcohol & drugs  Feeling of dread working with certain clients  Diminished sense of enjoyment of career

 Disruption of worldview; feeling of anxiety/ fears  Hypersensitivity or insensitivity to emotional material  Absenteeism  Impaired decision making  Problems with intimacy & personal relationships

Burnout
 Associated with feelings of hopelessness, emotional exhaustion, difficulty dealing with work effectively  A syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization & reduced personal accomplishment  Onset is gradual

Stress

 The body s non specific response to any demand  EUSTRESS- (+) form; adds excitement & challenge to work  DISTRESS- (-) form; threatens effectiveness  STRESSOR- anything that an individual perceives as threat

3 stages of STRESS

Stress Management thru Self Care

MANAGER:  Seek time off on a regular basis to meet personal needs  Have recreation outside work setting  Proper diet & exercise  Separate work life & personal life  Write a self-care contract

Motivation

 Accdg to David McClelland:

 People are motivated by the following:
 Achievement
 A person is motivated to improve what she has, transforming ideas into action, taking risks when necessary

 Affiliation
 A person is motivated by the relationship with family & friends; women have higher affiliation needs

 Power
 A person is motivated by the power to be gained as a result of the action