With the onset of COVID19 pandemic, a new concern for the mental health experts is Compassion Fatigue, especially among healthcare workers.

Compassion fatigue is the cost of caring for others, is an extreme state of tension and preoccupation with the suffering of those being helped to the degree that it creates secondary traumatic stress for the helper. Commonly experienced by healthcare professionals, it is a combination of physical, emotional, and spiritual depletion associated with caring for patients in significant emotional pain and physical distress. 

Healthcare workers are overburdened with work as well as overwhelmed with all the infection and death around them. In addition, they have also have no or minimum support from citizens and patient’s families. This leads to an aggrieved mental state wherein, there are aggressive outbursts and attacks on them by the same people they are trying to protect and help. They also experience stress at home as they have to stay away most of the time and when they are back, they worry about their family’s health and how they may be a carrier of coronavirus to their families.

Symptoms of compassion fatigue include;

•  Increase in feelings of depression or lack of emotion leading to chronic physical and emotional exhaustion
• Short temper and irritability at work as well as at home
• Disturbed sleep patterns and a considerable decline in personal hygiene
• Indifference toward the needs of patients or family members and feelings of inequity towards the therapeutic or caregiver relationship
• Feeling self-antipathy and increased oversensitivity to comments or constructive criticism
• Increased headaches or physical issues leading to substance dependence or an increase in existing substance use
• Difficulty in multitasking in general
• Increased invasive thoughts about recent losses or stressors

How to cope with compassion fatigue before it takes up all the good in you?

 1) Try not to take up the responsibility of being the sole resource: Many a time, being a nurse or healthcare professional - the patient’s family tries to seek you out for moral support. Doing so for a little while is always good and needed too but try not to take it all on yourself. Instead, suggest them to go for support to therapists or social workers or the like. 

 2) Be proud of your work and boost emotional flexibility: Healthcare is a profession that touches and changes lives. Even in the times of difficulty, you stand strong to help others - being proud of your profession will boost your emotional resilience. Think positive and stay positive.

 3) Keep self-care as the top priority: Caring for your needs and looking after your physical and mental health is of utmost importance while dealing with compassion fatigue. You might tend to forget yourself while working and helping others but it is imperative to manage the basics of your cycle good sleep - healthy food - exercise in order. 

4) Set boundaries for work and emotions: Don’t let your emotions cross the doors of the hospital when you are on your way home. Try to manage the work-life balance based on the physical - mental - emotional lines. This will help you be in the moment and not overthink about things often. Explore your options and ways to cope up with with the work stressors and pressure. 

5) No shame in asking for help: If you think things are going out of your hand and it is resulting in toxic outputs for more than two weeks, seek help. Reach out to your unit leader and discuss your problems at work. If you think you need more perspectives, choose a professional for your expression. Take help whenever needed as releasing the mental and emotional pressure is important to maintain a cordial life during this pandemic phase.