Compassion Fatigue: What is it and do you have it? | Juliette Watt | TEDxFargo

"Helping shouldn't hurt"
Huge realization for anyone that is a 'caregiver'
Compassion fatigue is beyond burn out

Helping shouldn’t hurt.

I have a wife with cancer and fibromyalga and a father with dementa, and 4 kids. This hits hard.

Thank you all. I have longed to have a Yorkshire puppy. And I will now. I am a remaining sibling seem some of my family thinks its my duty to care for my mother 7days a week and do it the way they would do it. From here on I will take at least 2days away from this situation until i get better, at this point. Nothing else matters but God. I stopped feeling months ago. Thank you again. And I thank my nephew who saw the signs in me and sent this link to me. It was for me.

“Helping shouldn’t hurt” - what an eye-opener! But, of course 😞 The blinkers are now off 🙏

This describes me exactly! I’ve been my elderly moms primary caregiver due to Alzheimer’s for 5+ years without a single day off and am disabled myself. Prior to disability retirement 15 years ago, worked two jobs, have always been there for my kids and grandkids and have never been so physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted in my life. I don’t even know who I am anymore. This is me😢
My doctor said it’s severe caregiver burnout and prescribed antidepressants. I said I’m not self medicating when I have three siblings out living their lives and refusing to help, I just need time to breathe, to pray, to do something I enjoy, to live life too. I wish I could refill my cup and am desperately trying…thank you for your words of wisdom and for truly understanding

Wow - this really hit home and made so much sense to me. I literally felt like a switch turned on in me...thank you for this!

Mrs. Watt would you be willing to talk to me? Please.

Thank you. I need to hear this.

As a caregiver to a terminally ill husband, I finally know what is wrong with me and why I have been feeling so miserable. I have been a caregiver for over 11 years, the first 8 were not bad at all and life felt normal. For the last 3 years I have watched my husband slowly go downhill and it has caused a lot of stress on me. I am the caregiver, the housekeeper, cook, maid, lawncare service, errand runner, full time employee to a wonderful company that allows me to work from home and the only income provider. We also have a farm and I have to attend to the livestock daily. I'm exhausted, tired and feel sick everyday. Sometimes I wonder if I feel worse than my spouse with cancer does. Sometimes I pray to God to either take me or take him, which makes me feel even more guilty. My doctor prescribed me anxiety medication and a anti-depressant that doesn't feel like it helps at all...this video has opened my eyes and made me realize that I most likely have compassion fatigue.

Yes!

Thank you so much for your courage!!! This is a life lesson!

I left nursing partly because of this.

"Are you feeling overwhelmed?"
"Yes!"🧍🏻‍♀️

For the first time in months, something is actually speaking to me (this video). Before I was always happy to see others put out positive messages..but as I suffered it only brought my anger and cynicsm. It all seemed fake and pointless. This video actually helped bring me a pinch of hope that maybe everything isn't a lost cause. Though it is still so hard to see the light.

I have it terrible.. nobody was there. When I called

The irony of this is having just watched that I'm now reading the comments to see what other people have done to surely deserve self-compassion more than I do. This is a deep hole to get out from and the further irony is working in healthcare it is rare to have others around you give even a glimpse of the compassion they show to others to you. It all feels very fake these days, a frustrating existence of conveyor belt care. When the rest of life is hollowed out through isolating myself over the years it really doesn't feel like there is any point.

This is exactly how I feel taking care of my elderly parents😢 mostly my sick mother and I am an option. I get angry very soon, i don't feel like myself anymore, i feel hopeless.

I wonder if this is a societal thing, such as seeing this stress related disorder more in one culture over another. I wonder why in nations where high rates of happiness don't have this? But our societies where the focus of you need money to survive has anything to do with this form of fatigue? I want to see the numbers. May be we wouldn't feel so anxious and fatigued if we actually lived in a resource-based society where everything isn't having to work to pay for everything... and we can relax and focus on caring about each other without the f^<king fear of losing your home, and basic essentials of survival!!!!!????!!!! 🤔 Oh BUT WE CAN'T ATTACK THE RETARDED MONETARY-MARKET SYSTEM CAN WE!?! Always got to use the bandaid method instead of actually doing the surgical procedure that would actually fix everything wrong with society.

Yes, I am so grateful for this video. I am not taking care of myself at all. No gratitude, no joy, to structure, I need to live my dream, I need to say NO. I am suffering from “Compassion Fatigue."..I feel like my time is up, but now that I see you with your empowering video. I feel hopeful and maybe I can live a little longer than 66 Thank you so much. I wish I could go away for 21 days and get fixed...Care for me..with no interruptions. Except for my 2 cats of course. I cannot believe I have somehow diagnosed Myself. with ****Compassion Fatigue****. I will be strong and research more about this horrible thing I'm trapped in Wramest Regards
Mary from Grimsby On (✿◠‿◠)(〜￣▽￣)〜~(=^‥^)ノ