Combatting Compassion Fatigue in a World of Ever-Increasing Need

December 2, 2024

We live in a world where it seems like unprecedented things are happening every day. 2024 has been filled with record-breaking temperatures (again), war, extinction, and injustice.

Unfortunately, these are only a few of the issues we are bombarded with in the news and on social media. The emotional stress and exhaustion stemming from clickbait titles that draw us into the bad news cycle has led to the creation of terms like “doomscrolling” and “headline anxiety.” This is particularly true when it comes to causes you care about. The 24-hour news cycle forces us to face often negative or difficult stories repeatedly, which can lead to feelings of hopelessness—even apathy.

This is compassion fatigue, and it needs to be addressed.

Traditionally associated with “helping” fields like healthcare, police, and nonprofits and community service, for quite some time studies and polling have shown compassion fatigue and other forms of vicarious trauma can be obtained through witnessing the trauma of others, and this includes repeated exposure to traumatic news and events.

But why are we talking about this now?

The end of the year is the biggest opportunity for most nonprofits to raise donations. It’s the Season of Giving, a time when many folks have the chance to look at their yearly budgets and determine if there is any money left over to give to charity. As a result, you may find yourself inundated with requests for help and financial support. This can be overwhelming, especially if you begin to feel like nothing you could possibly contribute will make a difference. This is a sense of apathy we must fight at all costs.

Why It Matters

Your passion matters. Your donation matters. Your volunteer hours matter.

It’s easy to feel burnt out when all you’re seeing is negative news and stories, or when you’re constantly asked for support because so much help is still needed, but don’t let this stop you from getting involved with the causes you care about. Apathy is the enemy of action, and right now, we need positive action more than ever.

Don’t get us wrong, if you are feeling burnt out or like you might be experiencing compassion fatigue, you are certainly not alone, and your feelings are valid. It’s important to identify when this might be happening (it happens to all of us) and do what you can to address it.

Tips for Dealing with Compassion Fatigue and Some Helpful Resources

As we close out 2024 and enter into a new year, here are some tips and resources to help if you think you may be experiencing compassion fatigue…

Tips

Seek emotional and peer support. As cheesy as it might sound, talking about how you’re feeling can make a significant difference and help lighten the load. You may even find that others are feeling the same as you. This is particularly true for people who work in helping fields and are confronted with trauma on a daily basis. Your coworkers know what you’re going through; talk to them. Create a space where everyone feels comfortable to share their minds openly. You can take our word for it—it really helps.

Fill your cup. Make sure to set aside time for hobbies and activities you enjoy. When you make a conscious effort to set aside time to do the things you love, it can make compassion fatigue easier to manage.

Sleep. When we don’t prioritize rest, we can destabilize our hormone levels and production. Our ability to make decisions, solve problems, and control our emotions all suffer with a lack of sleep.

Connect with nature. Again and again, exposure to nature has been shown to decrease anxiety levels, stress, blood pressure, and anger as well as improving sleep and overall cognitive function. Take a walk around your neighborhood, visit a local park, or take a moment to rest beneath a tree. Even if you’re not an outdoors person, you might be surprised at how much you enjoy spending a peaceful moment outside.

Set boundaries. Know when it’s time to set the phone down and walk away. There can often be guilt associated with not keeping up with the latest news (another not-so-fun side-effect of the 24-hour news cycle), but knowing when you’ve reached your limit is important. Take a break, walk away, and set boundaries for yourself. This might include time limitations for watching the news or scrolling through social media—wherever you might be seeing content that’s causing you stress and/or anxiety.