Fear is a natural part of life. Some fears help keep us safe, but many people are plagued by unnecessary fears. These fears limit their ability to operate in the …
Combating Compassion Fatigue
The images of the destruction the southeastern part of Texas has experienced are overwhelming. Hurricane Harvey devastated many lives.
Emotions have stirred as we watched families waded through filthy water in search of dry ground. Many have acted while watching parents carry children in an attempt to escape with their lives. We have heard the twenty-four-hour news coverage telling the same basic story over and over. They have said, “This area has never flooded, but this time it did and this family lost everything.”
It is a story of devastation and grief, but at some point, you are ready to change the channel or stations. You care, but the situation is overwhelming. Those dealing with this reality are tired from the work they are doing to recover. The rest of us are dealing with compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue is when repeated exposure to a tragedy experienced by others begins to desensitize you to the situation.