BURNOUT & COMPASSION FATIGUE

BURNOUT/COMPASSION FATIGUE RELAPSE PREVENTION PLAN

Introduction & Definition: The terms “burnout” and “compassion fatigue” are somewhat self-explanatory. Both speak of an end result. Burnout is a candle burning brightly for the length of its wick, now spluttering towards its end. Upon extinguishment the melted wax solidifies and is engulfed in the ensuing darkness. Compassion Fatigue is an ambulance running out of fuel as it speeds on its way to the scene of a serious accident. It rolls to a stop at the side of the road and shuts off its lights and siren to save embarrassment. As is a candle with no wick left to burn, so is an ambulance with no fuel left to run: both are spent.

Competitors & Carers: Competitive workplaces fuel burnout. Those seeking promotion, those trying to climb corporate ladders, lack proper peer support because they are competing against their peers. Thus, they may crash and burn if they neglect self-care. Then there are those who are in the support industry, those who are the carers of their competitive peers and others. These succumb to Compassion Fatigue due to taking to heart their peers’ burdens and problems without offloading. It is a recipe for disaster when Carers themselves have to compete with their peers for recognition and promotion. Though very much related, Burnout and Compassion Fatigue are not exactly the same thing, but when combined in an individual, they cause the competitive Carer to flat-line. Logically speaking, it would be better to have one or the other than having both Burnout and Compassion Fatigue at the same time. However, since logic lacks compassion, it would be far better to suffer from neither! Therefore, recognise the symptoms.     

Symptoms: Humanly speaking, those with Burnout and/or Compassion Fatigue have nothing left to give. They are stressed-out to the max. Their vim, vigour and vitality, their drive, has been replaced by a hollow feeling: emptiness. Their zeal, zest and zing, their passion, has been turned into fatigue, and their flaming fire has become dying embers and burnt-out ash. Empathy has ceded to sympathy, which has finally surrendered to apathy. Pain-avoidance is now about self-preservation: Reflection becomes deflection as the hard-shelled tortoise retreats into itself. It is a turning inward. “Now solitaire’s the only game in town.”[1] Loneliness. Withdrawal. Avoidance. The brave face works hard to conceal by disguise the broken spirit. “The tears of a clown when no one’s around.”[2] Salty-tears. Self-reflection. Self-pity. Self-loathing. Self-medication. “Running on empty.”[3] Fatigue. Breathlessness. Anxiety. Tightened vocal cords. Gastric pains. Racing heart. Emotional pain. Hurt. Fear. Irritability. Smouldering anger. Crash. Reboot. Crash. Crash. “Someone help me, help me please. Is the answer up above?”[4] Help!

Triggers: Busyness. Competitiveness. Nurturing negative thoughts and attitudes. Being “happy” in misery. Viewing the glass as half empty and in need of a top-up. Stressful situations. Neglecting to care for self.

Cure: Self-care. Rest. Re-focus. Recalibrate. “Count your blessings, name them one by one.”[5] Set smaller goals. Calm down and slow down. Relax. Unwind. De-stress. Appreciate what you have. Appreciate creation. Stop to smell the flowers. “Be still and know that I am God.”[6] Be thankful. Be grateful. Be kind, especially to yourself. Seek professional help. LET, repeat, LET others help you!

Relapse Prevention Plan: You have not failed if you are burnt out. You have not let the side down if you are compassion fatigued. You have simply neglected self-care. Self-care is not a sin. Nor is it a crime. It is just something that you must do, if you are going to fulfil your responsibilities to your job, your family, your friends and yourself. Sick and ill doctors have to cancel the appointments of the sick and ill. A helpless helper is useless. Like the oxygen masks on airplanes, therefore, look after your own wellbeing – first! It is sensible, not selfish, to look after oneself.

·         Burnout and Compassion Fatigue have KO’d even champions

·         Learn the symptoms to avoid the punches

·         Eat well, and train your mind as well as your body before entering the ring

·         Take time between each round to self-assess and have others assess your present condition

·         If you are face down on the canvass then listen closely to the count before you even think of trying to get back into the fray

·         Don’t forget to relax between title bouts

Conclusion & My Personal Care: Read Bible daily. Reflect on passage. Pray. Instead of always running around the lake or through the park, occasionally have a relaxing walk while enjoying and appreciating God’s creation. Listen to the birdsong. Even sing along with the birds! Be thankful to God, for the sun sparkling on the water, for the breeze in the trees, for all of His handiwork. Don’t just glorify God. Enjoy Him too! Really enjoy Him! Relax on my own. Relax with my wife. Relax with my family. Relax in my spa. Relax on my couch. Relax through the night in my bed. Relax! Don’t let politics annoy. Don’t let busy traffic annoy. Don’t let Social Media annoy. Stay calm. Stay focussed. Be grateful for family and friends.

I thought I was looking after myself. It was only after I had crashed that I realised how much I wasn’t. I did not enjoy getting KO’d and “canvassed”! But God certainly got my attention while I was seeing stars!

The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.[7]

---

[1] Neil Sedaka & Phil Cody.

[2] Hank Crosby, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder.

[3] Jackson Browne.

[4] Paul Anka.

[5] Johnson Oatman.

[6] Psalm 46:10a.

[7] Westminster Shorter Catechism Q & A 1.