Compassion fatigue? Have I lost my sense of compassion?
Compassion fatigue? Have I lost my sense of caring for others, my sense of humanity?
Do you find yourself listening to the news, social media about another shooting, another overdose, car accidents, deaths, and not feeling tremendous sadness or compassion for the victims?
It’s been months since the Covid crisis has locked down our entire country, and the globe. We have been stuck in unprecedented situations. That sense of isolation added financial burden and strained personal relationships, fear for family and friends constantly is not our usual life experience.
Add to this constant stress, other tragedies such as mass shootings, multiple fatalities, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, police shootings, police brutality, violent riots, protests and the constant threat of Covid virus.
These different events slowly fill up our mind, body and soul.
With a 24-hour news cycle, we get no escape from the unpleasantness. When we read about somebody else getting shot in the street instead of feeling tremendous sadness and compassion for the victim it can feel more of ‘well whatever’.
This does not mean we don’t care, merely that we are suffering from compassion fatigue.
Our minds can seem overwhelmed with the sadness of the events that are happening around us, many may experience a sense of helplessness.
It’s important to know how to refill, to recharge that emotional part of life by creating your self-care tools and strategies for good mental and physical health. It is actively recharging our ’emotional fuel cell’. The only person who can recharge you is YOU!
A self-care tool kit is knowing how to recharge your physical and mental health.
It can be as simple as going for a walk, cutting the grass, watching Bugs Bunny reruns, organizing your tools in your shed, painting your nails, watching funny movies having a barbeque with friends sharing your feelings to know that you are not alone in these unprecedented times experiencing compassion fatigue.
For me, I like to use fitness as a mental recharge, baking and spending time with positive people are part of recharging those ‘emotional fuel cells’. Think about what you can do to recharge. Be creative.
Knowing how to refill your emotional tank, to recharge is how you get rid of and regain that sense of compassion for yourself and others. Remember to seek out help if you are struggling. You are not alone in this compassion fatigue.
