What are the best ways to manage compassion fatigue?

To me, compassion is another word for love, and compassion fatigue is an oxymoron. I am sorry to break it to you. If you are fatigued and burning yourself to the ground, it's not because you are compassionate. It is because there is an underlying issue that needs to be resolved. Start by showing compassion towards yourself. Eat, sleep, and exercise regularly. Share responsibility. Allow others to support and help you in whatever you are doing. Take a break. Everyone needs one; if you care, you understand the importance of a break and take it. If you are on some guilt trip pushing you out of your boundaries and toward fatigue. Seek help and heal your inner self. Express yourself using some art form like writing, acting, or drawing.

Compassion Fatigue takes on many forms for different physicians, but several commonalities exist. -Chronic exhaustion (emotionally or physically) -Irritability or anger -Reduced feelings of empathy -Difficulty sleeping -Weight loss -Inability to leave the stress of work after hours -Drug or alcohol abuse

In tackling compassion fatigue, we must broaden our lens beyond self-care to embrace community care. This means creating a supportive ecosystem where health care practitioners lean on each other, sharing experiences and coping strategies. Picture a 'Care Circle,' a peer group where health care professionals regularly meet, not for clinical discussions, but to recharge and connect on a human level. It’s like a potluck of emotional support - everyone brings something to the table, and everyone leaves richer. This collective approach not only alleviates individual stress but also strengthens the fabric of the medical community, fostering a more empathetic and sustainable healthcare environment.

Self-care, for me, revolves around three things--movement, food, and sleep. 1) Exercise and Stretching have been a habit that has strengthened my body and my mind. It serves as a keystone habit that the rest of my self-care hinges on. Your exercise or movement regiment doesn't need to be (nor should it be) complicated. The simple act of moving creates the impetus for even more self-care. 2) Filling the body with nutritious, unprocessed foods will reduce the lethargy and brain fog plaguing many of us. Having a great, tasty, hearty, and healthy meal provides more energy and longevity to our sometimes hurried lives. 3) Sleep is equally essential to movement and food, yet it is the first to suffer related to our self-care.

In my experience, taking time to walk outside in nature, breathing in the air, at the end of my work day allows me an opportunity to unwind and transition out of the emotions and stress of the day.

Give yourself the gift of time. This may seem intuitively obvious, but few of us do this. Create more white space on your calendar. This is quickly accomplished by looking at your schedule and asking yourself, "do I need to attend this meeting?" or "am I needed at this project?". Be comfortable with the word "No." Saying no is not easy but extremely necessary to maintain our wellness. You may feel disappointed that you are letting the person down, but remember that you must make yourself a priority in your path toward wellness. This is not selfish--it is imperative. Remember, saying yes to one thing means saying no to something or someone else. Many times, unfortunately, the someone else is you.

You might try to remember why you became a physician. I'm betting it was because you were other directed. If so, try to stop making it about YOU and focus on helping your patient.