Identifying and managing compassion fatigue and/or burnout
Introduction
Managing animal and clients in distress can lead to secondary traumatic stress in the caregivers. This can be magnified in veterinary medicine with budgetary and care restrictions. Even if help is possible, it may not be feasible.
Signs and Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue and Burnout
- Excessive blaming and/or complaining
- Bottled up emotions
- Social isolation
- Poor client care and/or client complaints
- Substance abuse
- Compulsive behaviors
- Poor self care
- Nightmares and flashbacks
- Physical ailments (recurrent colds, GI upset)
- Signs of depression
- Difficulty concentrating
- Physical and mental exhaustion
- Loss of joy in normally enjoyable activities
What to do
Compassion fatigue can affect programs as well as people. Time off may be needed; counseling is generally helpful.
- Grieve when you are able to (depending on the urgency of the situation) and when you feel that you need to. Some prefer to grieve with the patient’s family and friends while others usually chose to express such emotions in privacy.
- Take time to renew yourself, such as watching a funny movie, spending time with a loved one or going to the beach.
- If religion or spirituality is important to you, pray for your patients.
- Particular scenarios that especially trouble you may be due to your own experiences with family members or friends who have been in similar situations. You may have unresolved grief that you need to deal with.
- Don’t be afraid to seek professional help if needed, especially if you become depressed (see Recognizing Depression).
People I Can Talk to:
- Crisis hot line (for yourself or someone else): (612)-301-4673
- Text “UMN” to 61222
- Student counseling services: (612) 624-3323
- Boynton Mental health clinic: (612) 624-1444
- Behavioral Consultation Team: (612) 626-3030
- Athena Diesch-Chham, 612-625-4168, diesc009@umn.edu
- Dr. Erin Malone, 612-625-4762, malon001@umn.edu
- Anyone in Academic and Student Affairs
- GOALe mentor(s)
- Classmates, family and friends
- Any faculty you feel you can approach
- Your physician, student health services and/or your spiritual advisor
- Compassion fatigue awareness link
- AVMA compassion fatigue resources
- Vetsupport compassion fatigue resources
- 3 good things for resilience
Final Thoughts
Compassion fatigue and/or burnout is a treatable condition. If you feel you may be at risk, seek help. If a colleague is at risk, care enough to guide them to therapy or speak to a faculty member or school official who can offer assistance in this matter.
