When you always put others needs before your own, unhealthy patterns might form. Emotional exhaustion, alienation from work-related activities and diminished work performance are just some of the symptoms of compassion fatigue.

If you or someone you know has compassion fatigue, it’s important to identify and treat symptoms to avoid the long-term effects of this type of ‘secondary traumatic stress.’ Check out some of the symptoms of compassion fatigue below and remember to take care of yourself as well as others.

• Feeling irritable, angry or anxious. Being exposed to other people’s trauma for prolonged periods of time can be exhausting. This can result in feelings of apathy. As a consequence, when someone needs your help, it can be difficult to focus or care about their needs. Furthermore, often feeling irritable and tired can lead to strained relationships with your loved ones.

• Depersonalization and isolation. One sign of compassion fatigue is having trouble connecting with people in your life. When you feel tired from caring about others all the time, you might isolate yourself or feel a sense of “depersonalization.” It can be difficult to find the energy to interact with others, but self-care and taking time for yourself can help.

•  Insomnia. Being unable to sleep due to the stress of caring can lead to instances of insomnia. Empathetic individuals often experience high performance anxiety, which occurs when someone wants certain tasks to be performed perfectly. This results in their brain being so stimulated throughout the day that sleeping becomes hard.

•  Reduced work performance. Compassion fatigue can lead to lack of motivation and exhaustion, which can hinder work performance and diminish quality of work.

•  Developing addictive behaviors. Although showing compassion and caring for others is rewarding, it can be difficult on the mind and body. When you constantly feel drained and tired, this can lead to addictive behaviors such as excessive drug and alcohol use.

The good news is that compassion fatigue is treatable. Check out our other post about reducing symptoms here.