Purpose Driven Burnout vs. Compassion Fatigue
In my 22 years in social service and mental health, I have balked at the term “compassion fatigue.” Instead, I have adopted the term “purpose-driven burn out” to try to describe the special type of weariness that those of us who have worked in social services, non profit, education and public sector settings experience.
The free workshop offered to helpers to combat “compassion fatigue”? I’ll pass. Conference session titles with “compassion fatigue” in the description? No, thank you. I do not judge those who participate in or facilitate these sessions; as a therapist, I teach many of the same techniques in individual sessions. I believe that learning to lower cortisol levels, set boundaries, and commit to self-care are all necessary tools for those working in social services. Often, these practices, meant to alleviate individual stress levels are not going to be enough. It is critical that we are honest with ourselves and aware of what is really making us tired, and even jaded, before we can regain our lost passion and energy.
The reason I cringe at the term compassion fatigue is the implication that the act of caring for others causes the fatigue. That, maybe, the problems of my clients, patients, or students seeped into my soul during after-work hours and made me weary. Compassion Fatigue feels slightly self-indulgent. You think I’m tired? What about the mother I work with who put her child in daycare while she worked the night shift at Amazon, got her kiddo ready for school in the car, and slept in her car for a few hours after drop off? She’s tired.
If exhausted while helping others, it’s not solely coming from your compassion or your clients’ heartache. It’s coming from broken systems, lack of resources, and wealth disparities. In other words, it might be better - and healthier - for us to understand that it is not so much that our compassion for the individual has been exhausted, but that we are continually disappointed for our clients when the system doesn’t come through for people who need it most.
It is not that you are tired from caring. It is hard to care so much when the system doesn’t come through for people who need it. You are tired of not enough accessible food when there is clearly enough food. You are tired of telling someone that there is an extensive waitlist for shelters and housing support, or that they do not meet the criteria for the support. You are tired because agencies that are meant to help those in need have too many system-made barriers to be helpful. You may even be tired because your own employer focuses on the liability of helping others more than providing the help that is needed. All of this can lead to a real sense of hopelessness.
When we begin to pinpoint areas of hardship in our positions as well as within the system in which we work, we can tackle the struggles at the source. In therapy, I work with clients to define the sources of fatigue and frustration. What has changed since you last felt excited about the work you do? What do you have control over and where can you celebrate successes more robustly? Can the kindness and care you gave someone today impact their day even though you didn’t resolve all of their presenting problems? Similarly, we, as a community, need to ask ourselves where we can advocate for systemic change?
For those who are struggling with Purpose-Driven burnout, there is help available. As a therapist who serves professionals who work in these settings, I have been where my professional clients are and I know that they need someone who understands and can help define the source of the fatigue. Therapy can be an important part of your journey.
