The Five Phases of Compassion Fatigue

1. The Crusader Phase

During this phase you are excited and committed to doing great work. You put in extra hours and spend a lot of time trying to develop professionally.

1. The Irritated and Annoyed Phase

You are not as enthusiastic as you become more frustrated and start to look for shortcuts. You may begin to make more mistakes at work.

1. The Withdrawal Phase

You may begin to feel exhausted and overwhelmed and begin to distance yourself from others and work. Sleep can be disrupted by insomnia or nightmares. Work/life balance is uneven which may begin to affect personal relationships.

1. The Disengagement Phase

You feel numb and disconnected. You feel less confident and more negative about your career, work or other activities. Your emotions become detached and your sense of empathy suffers.

1. The Pathology Phase

• Serious physical and mental health issues begin to emerge. 

• You may feel hopeless, depressed, and have feelings of helplessness or self-blame. 

• Symptoms can include chronic physical symptoms like headaches or digestive issues, and a complete loss of empathy. 

• This can lead to leaving the profession entirely. 

If you think you may fall into one of these phases or begin to recognize that you may be suffering from compassion fatigue, reach out to your work administrator, a mental health professional or to family and friends. Compassion Fatigue is real, can have serious impacts on your physical and mental health, and cannot always be remedied with self-care alone.