Several recent research studies have identified alarming numbers of teachers reporting Compassion Fatigue working during the pandemic.
The American Psychological Association defines Compassion Fatigue as the burnout and stress-related symptoms experienced by caregivers and other helping professionals in reaction to working with traumatized people over an extended period of time.
During the pandemic response, teachers — like healthcare, emergency and community service professionals — responded with sustained compassion and empathy for their students and colleagues.
Compassion Fatigue in teachers can be complicated, and exacerbated by traumatic stresses in their own lives. Examples might include managing the care and education of their own children, adverse health issues impacting their own families and friends, changes in financial circumstances, or changes in their jobs.
During the pandemic any or all of these were more likely to impact teachers personally. One common example of added job stress for teachers has been that the pandemic resulted in widespread erosion of day-to-day resources and supports normally available to teachers. Many have out of necessity taken over responsibilities that would have been performed by other school staff before for the pandemic.
Compassion Fatigue is a set of symptoms, not a disease. It may be thought of as the intersection of Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress. Burnout is considered reactionary and usually occurs gradually over time. It has long been a risk factor in environments with high workloads, worker shortages and stress. Compassion Fatigue, on the other hand, has a sudden onset and results from increased exposure to suffering and taking on the pain of others. For many teachers, COVID-19 has created the perfect storm to create this intersection, and has resulted in deep, pervasive levels of Compassion Fatigue.
Compassion Fatigue symptoms encompass a wide range of debilitating effects on emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.
According to Michael Selbst, PhD, BCBA-D and Ashley Zultanky, PsyD,1 signs of Compassion Fatigue include:
- Irritability, anxiety, agitation, frustration, and anger
- Depersonalization and feeling disconnected from others
- Decreased feelings of empathy and sympathy
- Increased and chronic psychological and emotional fatigue
- Apathy, disinterest, or dread related to working for or taking care of others
- Physiological and physical discomfort
- Difficulties in interpersonal relationships
- Noticing thoughts about being “unfulfilled” in the role of professional
In order to prevent Compassion Fatigue, the American Psychological Association recommends the following2:
Recognize the Signs
Professionals in helping roles forget that they’re vulnerable. They’re trained to be empathic but at the same time to put their own emotions aside. Caring professionals can assess themselves with the free Professional Quality of Life measure developed by psychologist Beth Hudnall Stamm, PhD. This self-report tool covers symptoms, such as loss of productivity, depression, intrusive thoughts, jumpiness, tiredness, feelings of being on edge or trapped, or inability to separate personal and professional life. The measure also assesses compassion satisfaction—the positive emotions associated with helping others, such as happiness, pride and satisfaction.
Make Self-care Part of a Routine
Good self-care means developing a routine that makes each day predictable and that includes adequate sleep, healthy nutrition, physical activity, relaxation and socializing. The schedule should also include five minutes for a self-check-in each morning to assess tension in the body and worries in the mind. They recommend NOT doing this check-in before bed time, when the mind may spin into worry.
Examine Beliefs About Self-care
It’s not enough to just go through the motions of self-care, emphasizes Schwanz. Self care needs to be legitimate and real. Some caring professionals have internalized strident work ethics, and view self-care as selfish. As a result, they tend to be “always on,” worrying about work on a day off. Caring professionals shouldn’t feel guilty about taking time for relaxation and respite. Even small doses of positive emotion can help.
Practice Self-compassion
During the pandemic, caring professional are experiencing the same hard time as their patients or students. Worries about safety, uncertainty, financial concerns and disrupted routines increase stress. They tend to be “over-copers,” and strongly focused on the services they’re delivering, until they reach exhaustion. It’s important that they recognize their own susceptibilities and respect their own humanity, and be willing to seek help early, before symptoms of compassion fatigue become debilitating.
Create Community
Connecting with like-minded others is another strategy that can help prevent compassion fatigue. We tend to be a a very “mind-your-own business” culture, and reward independence and self-reliance over community. Building professional and personal communities, and staying connected with family and friends, is an effective way to check in with each other and prevent and address signs of compassion fatigue. Now may not be the time to go it alone.
Help Colleagues
Having and working with trusted colleagues can provide benefits for all. Get yourself a self-care buddy. Give each other permission to point out potential problems. Working together can side-step our natural tendencies to deflect or deny there’s a problem. Check in on each other’s stress levels and report daily acts of self-care.
The process of sharing our experiences helps to normalize Compassion Fatigue. Most professionals don’t realize Compassion Fatigue is normal and may be hesitant to ask for help. Once we realize that feeling this way is common, even normal, we’re more willing to talk about our struggles and accept help.
Focus on Compassion Satisfaction
Compassion Satisfaction is the polar opposite of Compassion Fatigue. It’s the felt celebration of being able to help others, and focus on the wins. Focusing on gratitude can also help.
Read more about Compassion Satisfaction in this Common Ground post.
1. Managing Burnout and Compassion Fatigue Through Self-Care Strategies; Michael Selbst, PhD, BCBA-D and Ashley Zultanky, PsyD, Behavior Therapy Associates; Behavioral Health News Spring 2020. https://behavioralhealthnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/BHN-Spring2020.pdf
2. Adapted from Are Your Experiencing Compassion Fatigue?; Rebecca A. Clay; American Psychological Association; June 11, 2020; https://www.apa.org/topics/covid-19/compassion-fatigue
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