Compassion Fatigue Support Resources for and by Animal Care Professionals and Welfare Workers
You’re pouring your heart into helping animals and it’s amazing!
But the constant stream of exposure to the suffering of others, emotional and physical exhaustion can start to wear you down. Or maybe you are not in a position to help others directly, but you still care about animals and feel flooded by all the sadness in the world.
You might be experiencing what’s known as Compassion Fatigue – a state of emotional exhaustion where you feel overwhelmed, detached, or like you’re losing your ability to empathize. It’s like your emotional tank is running low .
The constant exposure to distressing situations, such as animal cruelty, secondary traumatic stress, a feeling of helplessness in helping others and many more factors can lead to:
- Emotional & Physical Exhaustion
- Detachment and Decreased Empathy
- Reduced ability to cope with personal and work-related stress
- Increased risk of burnout (often felt as anger, frustration, or negativity towards others)
- Sadness and Avoidance
- Negative impact on your overall Mental and Physical Health
If this sounds like you, please know that you’re not alone.
For people who put their heart and soul into caring for others, the biggest challenge can be finding time for themselves. But you must be able to take care of yourself to be at your best to help others.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of Compassion Fatigue, try prioritize self-care and seek support.
If you can’t do it for yourself, please take care of yourself for all those you care about.
Below are some resources to help you get started:
Online therapy platforms like BetterHelp or Talkspace
- BetterHelp: www.betterhelp.com (phone: 1-888-588-1235)
- Talkspace: www.talkspace.com (support through website)
Hotlines and Helplines
- 988 Lifeline
- If you’re in crisis or need immediate support, please reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can call or text 988 to connect with a trained counselor, free of charge, 24/7.
- Crisis Text Line
- Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a live volunteer Crisis Counselor for free, 24/7.
Do I Have Compassion Fatigue?
Here are some Free, Reliable, No-email-required Self-Assessments:
- Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project: Offers three self-tests: the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) test, the Life Stress Test, and the Empath Test. These assessments help individuals recognize symptoms of compassion fatigue, life stress, and empathy.
- Carepatron: Provides a free PDF download of a compassion fatigue test and example. This resource helps individuals understand the signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue.
- HealthyPlace: Offers a Compassion Fatigue Test to help individuals assess their levels of compassion fatigue. This test is designed to promote self-reflection and awareness.
- Advisory:v Features a Compassion Fatigue Assessment tool to help staff recognize the visible and invisible signs of compassion fatigue, investigate the root causes, and seek additional help if necessary.
Organizations and Websites with more resources
- Best Friends Animal Society: Provides support and resources for animal welfare workers, including articles on self-care and compassion fatigue.
- ASPCA Compassion Fatigue & Resilience Resources for Animal Shelter Staff & Volunteer Wellness
- Self-Care Tips: Practical advice on managing stress and prioritizing your well-being
- Caring For Yourself & Others: Guidance on preventing compassion fatigue and burnout
- Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project: Resources, articles, and self-assessments to help you cope
- Not One More Vet (NOMV): Support for medical staff, including peer groups, mental health grants, and crisis support
- ASPCApro: Compassion fatigue and resilience resources specifically for shelter staff and volunteers
Reading and Workbooks
Articles:
- “Compassion does not fatigue!” by Trisha Dowling: This NIH publication helps better understand the differences between neurophysiological differences between empathy and compassion in order to better alleviate the burnout in animal welfare space.
- “Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, And Self-Care Practices: Mental Health Professionals Working In The Community” by Autumn Wohlford: This doctoral dissertation examines burnout, compassion fatigue, and self-care practices among mental health professionals working in the community.
Books:
- “Compassion Fatigue: Coping With Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder In Those Who Treat The Traumatized” by Charles R. Figley (Amazon, Thriftbooks)
- “The Compassion Fatigued Organization: Restoring Compassion to Helping Professionals” By Michelle Graff (Thriftbooks)
- “Help for the Helper: The Psychophysiology of Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma” by By Marjorie L. Rand and Babette Rothschild (Thriftbooks)
- “Treating Compassion Fatigue” by Charles R. Figley (Thriftbooks)
Workbooks:
- “To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior” by by Jennifer A. Blough LPC (Amazon)
- “The Compassion Fatigue Workbook” by Francoise Mathieu (Amazon)
- “The Compassion Fatigue Workbook: 28 Exercises for Compassion-Fatigued Helping Professionals” by by Michelle Graff (Companion workbook to “The Compassion Fatigued Organization: Restoring Compassion to Helping Professionals”) (Amazon)
- “The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook: A Proven Way to Accept Yourself, Build Inner Strength, and Thrive” by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer (Amazon)
NOTE: Please feel free to search for these publications from different providers or in local libraries.
So, what actually helps?
Recent studies show that self-care, stress management, and mental health support are crucial in addressing Compassion Fatigue.
The latest scientific research suggests that the following strategies are effective in helping people deal with compassion fatigue:
Self-Care
- Boundary-setting: Establishing clear boundaries between work and personal life to prevent emotional exhaustion.
- Self-compassion: Practicing self-compassion to develop a more positive and supportive relationship with oneself.
- Mindfulness: Engaging in mindfulness practices to reduce stress and increase self-awareness.
Stress Management
- Breathing exercises: Using breathing exercises to reduce stress and anxiety.
- Physical activity: Engaging in regular physical activity to reduce stress and improve mood.
- Relaxation techniques: Practicing relaxation techniques, such as meditation or yoga, to reduce stress and promote relaxation.
Mental Health Support
- Peer support: Seeking support from colleagues or peers who understand the challenges of working in high-stress environments.
- Professional help: Seeking professional help from mental health professionals who specialize in compassion fatigue and burnout.
- Mindfulness-based interventions: Participating in mindfulness-based interventions, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).
- Helping Others: This is a tricky one! If helping others is imperative for you to ensure your own healing, look for some new or different activities and ways of doing so that consistently and sustainably nourish and energize you rather than drain you further.
Please remember that your healing journey from burnout and depression that come from compassion fatigue is unique to you, but you don’t have to do it alone.
If you can’t find understanding in your immediate community, it’s ok to look for like-minded people to share your experiences with elsewhere and in today’s increasingly decentralized online world it has become more possible than ever.
Take advantage of the resources with whatever time you can carve out for yourself.
You are worth it.
You have value… with or without the work that you do to help others.
So, it’s ok to take breaks and to make time to care for yourself too.
Thank you for you and remember to celebrate the victories no matter how small and make time for moments of joy even in the midst of stormy times!
