According to the 3Rs Collaborative website: Compassion fatigue is a condition of caregivers that is characterized by physical and emotional exhaustion as well as sometimes a change in the ability to feel empathy. It stems from repeated exposure to emotionally challenging, stressful situations that call for empathy towards other beings whether human or animal. Compassion fatigue can include elements of perpetration-induced traumatic stress (distress related to causing trauma to others), secondary traumatic stress (distress related to viewing the trauma of others), and burnout.
Julie Squires, certified compassion fatigue specialist, discusses compassion fatigue and understanding how to care for yourself to develop resilience in this 6-part series brought to you by the Office of Research Services.
In watching these videos you will:
- Discover that the way you handle stress is biological.
- Understand the vital role your nervous system plays in stress and anxiety.
- Learn how befriending your nervous system allows for greater tolerance and resilience for challenges in life and work.
- Learn to focus on the most powerful tool on the planet: your brain.
- Understand how to align one's mindset is crucial for long-term well-being, career sustainability, and staying connected to one's purpose.
- Learn the interconnectedness of your thoughts, feelings, and behavior, and how to influence each.
- Learn that Self-care is not at all what most of us think it is, so we tend to underestimate its non-negotiable importance.