Compassion Fatigue in Clinicians
“Too much paperwork, too many long shifts, too little time to sleep, exercise, or relax with family and friends. These stressors can push physicians into early retirement, career changes, cuts in practice hours—or compassion fatigue. (Jablow, M.M (2017, July). Compassion Fatigue: The Toll of Being a Care Provider. AAMC.”
A career in medicine is comparable to a marathon - there may be seasons of feeling like you are just running on fumes, high on adrenaline, exhausted to the point of keeling over, or maybe parts start to feel numb. Compassion fatigue is a common experience among physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals that often starts by creeping in slowly, but if not dealt with can grow to become all-encompassing.
A 2022 Medscape survey found that an average 10% of physicians have contemplated suicide. What can we do to mitigate this risk and to create safety for our fellow clinicians?
1) Be Aware of Risk Factors - Clinicians are often highly skilled at assessing patients and constructing effective treatment plans, however; this skill often does not apply to themselves. It is all too easy to become conditioned to minimizing your own symptoms and needs. There can also be a negative bias toward oneself - convincing yourself that you aren’t subject to depression or anxiety. Because clinicians are trained to suppress discomfort and push through - this can turn into a very unhealthy practice that is actually quite self-detrimental.
2) Create a Wellness Plan - Similar to a safety plan - a quick guide for reminding yourself of how to find support when you aren’t feeling your best. Ideal wellness plan includes: a name of a primary care provider should you need to see one, a name of a mental health therapist you are established with, a name of a close friend or relative that you can rely on to be there for you. It can also be helpful to list out activities or environments that help to ground you and help you feel more like yourself.
3) Examine Current Coping Habits- Everyone turns to something to cope. Some common coping behaviors are: exercise, drinking alcohol, indulging in food, pornography use, smoking, even excessive sleep. Healthy coping behaviors include: exercise, journaling, listening to music, spending time outside, meditation, and adequate sleep. It is very common to pick up unhealthy coping habits during times of increased stress. Noticing you are falling into a habit that you don’t want to continue is the first step for changing that habit and replacing it with one that is more sustainable and healthy.