How to Manage Compassion Fatigue in Caregiving | Patricia Smith | TEDxSanJuanIsland

Caregivers are often so busy caring for others that they tend to neglect their own emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Studies confirm that caregivers play host to a high level of compassion fatigue.

In this insightful talk, Patricia Smith suggests the path to wellness begins with awareness, and recommends simple self-care measures such as regular exercise, healthy eating habits, enjoyable social activities, journaling, and restful sleep. With support, insightful information, and authentic self-care, caregivers can begin to understand the complexity of the emotions they've been juggling and, most likely, suppressing.

[kathyfausett]

Caregivers walk a tightrope with empathy on the left and apathy on the right. Some of us must maintain that delicate balance for years at a time. Too far left leaves us sick and exhausted. Too far right leaves us completely ineffective and defensive. It is truly part of the art of caregiving.

[amybrock]

Thank you so much for giving me a name for what I am going through. I've been a caregiver for 29 years. I am so burnt out and wore out . Yet I must get up everyday and do it again.

[alyssalesman]

I am a certified nursing assistant I care for people every day sometimes I go home and just cry cause I don’t feel like I have done enough I feel selfish every time I take time for myself cause I keep thinking this time can be spent helping someone in need thanks for listening to my rant and thanks for the video

[carinagable]

I just wanted to repost this from a comment to another person's comment. I just quit 2 and half weeks ago from being my grandmother's caretaker of 4 years on shaky grounds. I am currently about to try to tie up loose ends with her soon with some help from my aunt and uncle. While other family members appreciate me for giving my grandmother assistance over the years and trying to maintain her sense of independent living, they realize it's time for us to move on and are ready to step in. Before I decided to do make the decision, about 4-5 months ago I decided to go to my local mental health clinic and seek therapy and mental health counseling. I am so glad I did bc I recently hit a low point and I highly recommend caregivers to seek help when your intuition tells you to seek help. If you're not ready yet, I highly recommend to keep listening to YouTube for caregiver resources. I started doing that in December 2018 and January 2019 and it's been very insightful. A great channel is Careblazers.

[DiomedesLives]

“Oh my dear no, it’s saying you are ready to jump”

The biggest moment of her life…
The sole reason she is standing there giving such a robotic speech.

Then she shows her vulnerable side.
“Whenever I feel nervous or afraid…. his words jump right into my brain. Jump. (Smiles and does a girly pose) and I do…”

Why is no one talking about that???

[BeckyJB]

I’ve been a Caregiver for 2 1/2 years. Now I’m extremely depleted and isolated. Raising two kids on my own. I’m just now seeing this after six months of beating myself up of not knowing what’s wrong with me. Im feeling better after breaking up with a toxic relationship. Now meditating ten minutes a day;exercising;Applying for a new job;Listening to audiobooks. Feeling a bit better

[susanmarie]

As a self-employed senior caregiver for 16 years, I have certainly experienced compassion fatigue. I am grateful there is a name for it. I understand it now. Thank you for sharing on this topic.

[chrislim]

Life is changed so much only in past 5 months dealing with my 82 yr old father.
I don't know how you do this.
My life feels over.
😔

[redhothiccup]

I needed to hear this so badly. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. - A burnt out animal rescuer

[brendapearce]

Thank you for this talk. As a woman who has survived many, many life traumas and is a RN working in long term care, this talk is something that many many need to hear.

[grannybooster]

Ms. Smith nails the condition of compassion fatigue. It defines exactly what we caregivers feel, but often can't identify what's wrong.

[nunyabidnazz]

What a difference this speech has made in my life! Much like the empty tea kettle, can’t pour a cup for anyone else if we’re empty!

[lovesmary]

Very often I've been a caregiver for my son with schizophrenia. I'm basically the only one in the family who has the patience to deal with this horrible illness. In the past, he was homeless for a long time, MIA, off of his meds, etc. but he's my son, and I do what I can to help him regardless of his situation. This illness has such a horrible stigma attached to it, and so many want to judge him including family---instead of showing empathy and compassion.
I try to raise awareness so others know more of what all he's going through. After all, it could be one of their loved ones some day that get this. I've never heard of compassion fatigue, but it really hits home with my situation, and I totally agree with this because it can be so very draining to be a caregiver.
So often, it's an uphill battle, but with this illness, it's also a very lonely one for both the person with the illness, but also the caregiver. There's also a high risk of suicide (1 in 10 will be successful). I pray for more awareness, compassion, understanding and for the stigma to go away.

[docko]

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around" This is such a good quote. Part of the exhaustive aspect of care-giving is fixating on what we "don't accomplish" because that list is endless. We need to balance the things we don't accomplish, or can't accomplish, with appreciating the things that we "do" accomplish. Unless we allow a touch, a smile, an appreciative word or an honest compliment to recharge our batteries, then our inner batteries that provide the energy we need to "care" for others can, and will, slowly die. Excellent presentation, Patricia. Healthcare needs to incorporate Compassion into its training, as well as the risks of Compassion Fatigue.

[lolaost]

15 years of solo caregiving for my mom who had a massive stroke. It's been really hard, tiring and brutally taxing. This talk has been really helpful to me, thank you!!
Recognizing how burnt out I am and not feeling that this makes me weak. Though job😷

[maseratiskrill]

Ive been taking care of my mom for almost 3 years. I feel so much better hearing this video❤❤❤❤

[chiomaworks]

Self-care and balance are definitely important for the caregiver.

[Dannychigo]

This is incredible to me. It has aligned with a lot of things I've been seeing on the internet for the past couple/few years amongst those of my generation. We are so, so tired. Our dreams were ruined and yet we're still told to buck up and carry on and care on for others. But we can't. We've run used up our spoons. We've run out of honey in our jars. Our jars have cracked. Our spoons have vanished. So others amongst my generation having been passing around artworks that they drew telling us it's okay to say no. It's okay to step back. To refind our spoons. To get help to fix our jars. To tell others we can't right now. It's just incredible to see this shifting and I should've known that professionals have realized this too. I'm so glad to see lessons like this and to have it framed like this. It is truly helpful. :) Thank you!

[transformwithmenow]

Wow. You’re are light in this world where your light brings hope and help to others lighting up the darkness in this world. I had a similar experience with a lady. I believe this was your guardian angel greeting you 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 just beautiful thank you.

[annemettejorgensen]

This talk has hit the nail on the head. Wow. It’s been a difficult journey at times for me in the five full time years taking care of first one and now two parents. Wanting to keep them at home and help the family as best as I can but it’s taken a huge tole on me. I look at my life as in the past. One fees guilt and so much inner turmoil because it’s a doffing journey as it becomes a solo journey after awhile. This talk is so helpful clarifying why I or we caregiver come to feel as we do.