Compassion Fatigue and Burnout

Compassion Fatigue and Burnout Checklist

Use this checklist periodically to notice if you are experiencing symptoms of Compassion fatigue or burnout.

• Emotional exhaustion. This goes above and beyond physical exhaustion. You may feel emotionally worn out, drained, depleted, unmotivated, reluctant to go to work. Often due to burnout.
• Difficulty concentrating and focusing on tasks. Notice if you are less able to be totally present with clients in session or if you are having trouble focusing or remembering what was previously discussed.
• Increased anxiety and sadness that tends to globalize and impacts all aspects of your life.
• Anger and irritability. You may notice you have much less patience than usual or that you feel annoyed with clients instead of compassionate. This can show up in all areas of your life but stem from your work life.
• Decreased empathy with the issues your client presents, especially with issues you would typically empathize with.
• Feelings of helplessness and powerlessness. Be aware if you start to feel that nothing you do or say matters or makes any difference.
• Feelings of inadequacy, especially concerning your work with clients whose chronic illness or chronic pain isn’t getting better.
• Emotional numbing. Pay attention to feeling flat, distant or detached from your feelings and from others. Tune in to how you are feeling while in session.
• Physical symptoms like sleep disturbances, headaches, changes in appetite, and stomach issues 
• Lack of motivation. In burnout this may include not wanting to go to work.
• Loss of pleasure in activities once enjoyed. This can also be a sign of depression.
• Withdrawing from social activities. Notice if you are less interested in activities you usually enjoy and no longer participating in them.
• Increased sensitivity to trauma. Notice how you feel when hearing about the trauma of that your clients are presenting.  Go within and notice if you are experiencing a heightened stress response.
• Fear of the future which is also called anticipatory anxiety. Do you notice feeling worried or even panicky about the future? Is the level of your worry unrealistic? Are you having trouble focusing, feeling restless, trouble sleeping, feeling tense?
• Questioning the meaning of life. Do you notice wondering what it all means or why bother or do you feel lost?

Adapted from (Mosunic, 2024)