Recognising Compassion Fatigue
Launch library · evergreen read
Compassion fatigue can show up as tiredness, irritability, or a sense of emotional numbness after sustained caring for someone else over a long period. This is a quiet but essential part of supporting others well over time. This is worth revisiting regularly, not only during particularly hard weeks. This holds true whatever kind of support role someone happens to be in.
Recognising these signs early, rather than pushing through them, allows you to take steps to recover before they become more difficult to manage later. This is worth treating as seriously as the support you give to others. This is a habit worth building before it feels genuinely necessary. It is worth protecting, even when everything else feels urgent right now.
1800RESPECT is on 1800 737 732, and Lifeline is on 13 11 14, both available any hour for supporters experiencing this. These services exist precisely for moments like this one. You do not have to work through this entirely on your own. Nobody expects you to have all the answers before you call.