"I'm so tired of caring!"

When giving too much of yourself leads to emotional exhaustion, experts say 'compassion fatigue' can set in. Here, how to protect your big heart while also lifting your energy and spirits

- KRISTINA MASTROCOLA

ID your fatigue

Know you're not alone

“Caregivers, nurses, teachers, mothers—anyone navigating the stress of caring—are most susceptible to compassion fatigue,” says social worker Sharise Nance. “When you're busy tending to others, it’s easy to normalize this feeling. That's why it’s important to recognize the signs, like exhaustion, apathy, cynicism, irritation or feeling like you're on autopilot.” Simply validating what you're experiencing is the first step.

Be kind to yourself

When we feel like we're not doing enough to alleviate the suffering of others, a specific kind of fatigue called “moral distress” often rears its head, reveals traumatic stress expert Barbara Rubel.