1 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:12,800 Speaker 1: I started to realize that not being an expert isn't 2 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: a liability, it's a real gift. 3 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 2: If we don't know something about ourselves at this point 4 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:20,920 Speaker 2: in our life, it's probably because it's uncomfortable to know. 5 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,480 Speaker 2: If you can die before you die, then you can 6 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 2: really live. There's a wisdom at death's door. I thought 7 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 2: I was insane. Yeah, and I didn't know what to 8 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 2: do because there was no internet. 9 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: I don't know, man, I'm like, I feel like everything 10 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: is hard. 11 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:42,880 Speaker 3: Hey, y'all, my name is Kat. I'm a human first 12 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 3: and a licensed therapist second. And right now I'm inviting 13 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 3: you into conversations that I hope encourage you to become 14 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 3: more curious and less judgmental about yourself, others, and the 15 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 3: world around you. Welcome to You Need Therapy. 16 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 1: Hi guys, and welcome to a new episode of Therapy podcast. 17 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: My name is Kat, I am the host, and quick 18 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: reminder before we get into the good stuff that although 19 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: this podcast is hosted by a therapists and it is 20 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,040 Speaker 1: called You Need Therapy, it does not serve as a 21 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 1: replacement or a substitute for any actual mental health services. 22 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: So this week's couch Talks prompted me to do a 23 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:29,679 Speaker 1: little deeper of a dive on compassion fatigue, and I'm 24 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: glad I did because I actually learned something very interesting 25 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: that I'm excited to share with you guys. And if 26 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 1: you don't know what Couch Talks is or you didn't 27 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 1: listen to it, it's the episodes that I put out 28 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 1: on Wednesday, and they are responses to listener emails and 29 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: listener questions. And this past week a listener brought a 30 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 1: question about her job in the helping profession and wondered 31 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: if the burnout and the fatigue she was experiencing was 32 00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: something that therapists like me also experienced, and that's this 33 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: feeling where it gets harder to be motivated to care 34 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 1: for others and to care from them well. And if 35 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: you are interested in that response, you can go listen 36 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: to it. But as I was preparing that episode, I 37 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: was like, huh, I have some questions about this, and 38 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 1: I also think there's a larger conversation to be had 39 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: in talking about why sometimes at a deeper level that happens. 40 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: And what I do believe is that compassion and this 41 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 1: is an opinion of mine, This is not research base, 42 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: but I believe that compassion fatigue is something and was 43 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 1: something that was easier to talk about during the pandemic. 44 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:37,679 Speaker 1: And I think that's because the extremes make it more 45 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: digestible or excusable or just understandable. Oh, I get how 46 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 1: you would feel that way. Because of the world that 47 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 1: we're living in right now, it just makes more sense 48 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 1: and we can sit with the reality of it easier. 49 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 1: But compassion fatigue didn't go away when our world started 50 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: to open back up. It's very much still a thing 51 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 1: that happens to a lot of us, can happen to 52 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:01,680 Speaker 1: a lot of us very often. 53 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 2: And I like this. 54 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 1: I found that a lot of people refer and have 55 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 1: been referring to campassion fatigue as the cost of caring. 56 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 1: Now I say I like this. I don't like that 57 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: that is something that is a thing. I just like that. 58 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 2: As a description. 59 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 1: It's this cost of carrying what happens when we care 60 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: a lot, and we almost cross that line of carrying 61 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: too much, which, when it comes down to it, our 62 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: bodies are wired to help us care. They're wired to 63 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: help us move through crisis. They are wired for those things, 64 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:33,239 Speaker 1: especially when I say crisis in the big moments, when 65 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: crisis happens, we experience large surges of adrenaline, and these 66 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: surges give us the energy to hit the ground and 67 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: start running. And that's not just about crisis that happens 68 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: to us. It's when a friend's loved one dies, when 69 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: a friend has a baby, when a family not saying that. 70 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 2: Babies are bad. 71 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: Like, there's just a lot of energy and there's ways 72 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 1: to help and things to be done. When a friend 73 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: has a baby and has that big change of life. 74 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: When a friend or family member loses a job or 75 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 1: goes through any storm, we also get that surge to help. 76 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 1: We get that hit of I'll be right over when 77 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: a friend goes through a breakup. 78 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 2: I mean most of us have been there. 79 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: When a friend, a good friend goes through a breakup, 80 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 1: I personally will be the first one to. 81 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 2: Drive to the friend's house. I'll talk to you for hours. 82 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: I'll let you repeat yourself as many times as you need. 83 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,600 Speaker 1: I have the surge of adrenaline to carry me through 84 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:25,040 Speaker 1: those somewhat exhausting conversations, and I'm happy to do it. 85 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 1: But the surge of adrenaline eventually wears out. Yet what 86 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:31,599 Speaker 1: we do is we still hold ourselves to the expectation 87 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 1: of caring for those people at the same level. It's 88 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: like our adrenaline doesn't tell us, hey, we're slowing down 89 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: or running out. You might need to take a break 90 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 1: or do this or think about what you need. Adrenaline 91 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:45,280 Speaker 1: doesn't tells that. It just kind of starts to deplete, 92 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 1: and we're still trying to act in that same manner. 93 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: You make the drive to your friend's house every night 94 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: for two weeks, you have the same conversation. 95 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 2: About the breakup with your friend. For two months. 96 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 1: You leave any event with your friend because they can 97 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,359 Speaker 1: break down at the drop of the pin. And please 98 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 1: don't hear that I am shaming that friend who needs 99 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: and is asking for those things, the friend that's going 100 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:09,599 Speaker 1: through a hard time. Trust me, I've been that person. 101 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:13,479 Speaker 1: There is one no timeline for grief. And also, you're 102 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:17,279 Speaker 1: a human that's just going through emotions, and that's very 103 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 1: much allowed in my book. I'm talking to not that friend. 104 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 1: I'm talking to the other friend who continues to show 105 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: up day after day, who doesn't allow themselves to actually 106 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:30,160 Speaker 1: have emotions. You start to notice yourself getting irritable, wanting 107 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:32,040 Speaker 1: to push people away, yet you. 108 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 2: Still tuck on. 109 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: It's like I'm getting annoyed talking to them or needing 110 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 1: to do this or this or that. You may be 111 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: start to gossip about them, but you still force yourself 112 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: to be there at the same level for that friend, 113 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: even if it's not coming off at the same level, 114 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: and you don't listen to the cues of I'm tired, 115 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,840 Speaker 1: I'm exhausted, because you know this is what good friends do, 116 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 1: and what I'm hearing in that scenario, granted I'm. 117 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 2: Guilty of it. 118 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: Two is a little codependency. We become so focused on 119 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: the needs of others that we unintentionally, and I air 120 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:05,039 Speaker 1: quotes that unintentionally forget to check. 121 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 2: In with our needs. 122 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:08,839 Speaker 1: And the reason that I air quote the unintentional because 123 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 1: I really think that we do this dance where we 124 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: tell ourselves a story about what's more important because we 125 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:19,160 Speaker 1: aren't in crisis, so I have to take care of them. 126 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 1: But really we're telling ourselves that story. We're creating that 127 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 1: story now in a perfect world, when we were talking 128 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:28,040 Speaker 1: about the kind of crisis in an individual manner above, 129 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 1: there is that rhythm of crisis that's supposed to happen. 130 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 2: You take care of things with the. 131 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 1: Adrenaline surge and then eventually we come back down to 132 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 1: normal and then we carry on with life. However, many 133 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: of us don't have those one and done experiences, and 134 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 1: the mixture of the codependent tendencies and over identifying with 135 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:48,359 Speaker 1: others emotions with the repeated exposure doesn't really create the 136 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:52,720 Speaker 1: container for that normal cycle to actually happen. So the 137 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 1: pattern that is created like what's supposed to happen, doesn't 138 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 1: work with what actually happens. Our crises are lasting longer 139 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:03,280 Speaker 1: than our single adrenaline surges, and or we are experiencing 140 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:07,040 Speaker 1: one crisis after another after another after another. And for 141 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 1: those who are in the helping professions, we can actually 142 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: live in crisis management. It's like every day we are 143 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: in crisis, some kind of crisis. But compassion fatigue is 144 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 1: not reserved for just a professional setting. If we have 145 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: a sick loved one that we are caring for, maybe 146 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: that person actually lives in our house. If we have 147 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: a loved one that struggles with addiction, whether or not 148 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 1: they are living with us or not, that creates this system. 149 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: If we are a parent who has a job and 150 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 1: also cares for their kids, they're constantly taking care of 151 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: other needs before their own, and there's always something to do. 152 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 1: All of these experiences plus tons more. I can't make 153 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: a list because the list would be this whole episode. 154 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,679 Speaker 1: They create the constant or they include the constant shoving 155 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: of our own needs to take care of something that 156 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: tells us, and then we tell ourselves is more important 157 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: than us. And maybe some times that's true. But we've 158 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: all heard that age old saying we can't pour from 159 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: an empty cup, and when we force ourselves to do 160 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: it anyway, what we are pouring gets a little weird. 161 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: And that's where this compassion fatigue stuff comes in. And 162 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: the result is someone who seemingly lives a life they enjoy, 163 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 1: but they start asking themselves why they are so unhappy. 164 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: You know, I like my job, I have great friends. Oh, 165 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 1: I just came back from this awesome trip. It was 166 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 1: so fun. But I start wondering, why do I feel 167 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 1: so awful when all of these things are going well 168 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 1: for me. So the symptoms of compassion fatigue can include 169 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 1: being irritated or frustrated most of the time, feeling worthless, 170 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 1: feeling these large bouts of sadness, wanting to isolate yourself, 171 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:49,839 Speaker 1: feeling overwhelmed, feeling anxious, just feeling like. 172 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:50,679 Speaker 2: You're not yourself. 173 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 1: And sometimes today compassion fatigue is also referred to as 174 00:08:55,920 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: secondary vicarious stress disorder, which it's comparable to PTSD, but 175 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 1: it's it's not actually PTSD because if you have this, 176 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 1: you don't have PTSD. Secondary vicar stress disorder is what 177 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 1: happens when you are carrying for people who have experienced 178 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 1: PTSD or or are experiencing it, and you don't have it, 179 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 1: but you take on some of the symptoms as if 180 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 1: they're your own. So, in the early nineteen nineties, this 181 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: guy named doctor Charles Figley, who is at two Lane University, 182 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 1: define compassion fatigue and this is what he defined it as. 183 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:41,959 Speaker 1: So in the early nineteen nineties, this guy named doctor 184 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 1: Charles Fhigley, who is at two Lane. 185 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 2: University, define compassion. 186 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 1: Fatigue and this is what he defined it as the deep, physical, emotional, 187 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 1: and spiritual exhaustion that can result from working day to 188 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 1: day in an intense caregiving environment. He said that it 189 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 1: is the emotional and physical burden created by caring for 190 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: others in distress. And he is the one that I 191 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 1: have found to have first referred to this as the 192 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: cost of caring. However, as I was starting to dig 193 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 1: deeper into compassion fatigue, this is some of the stuff 194 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:17,840 Speaker 1: that I found that was so interesting that I really 195 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 1: want to share with you guys. More recently, the idea 196 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:24,720 Speaker 1: of what compassion fatigue really is has been starting to shift. 197 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 1: Instead of just seeing it as fatigue and compassion, a 198 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: loss of compassion depleting compassion, what is called compassion fatigue 199 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 1: might actually be empathic distress fatigue. And this all is 200 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 1: going to make sense as I explain it. And first 201 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 1: before I get into what empathic distress fatigue is, when 202 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,839 Speaker 1: it comes down to comparative suffering, I've been taught, and 203 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:52,080 Speaker 1: I believe that compassion is infinite, right. We were taught 204 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:55,040 Speaker 1: that there is an infinite amount of compassion. We don't 205 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 1: have this compassion pie and we have to ration it 206 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: out each day. And that is why my stuff gets 207 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 1: to be important, even though if it seems smaller than 208 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 1: somebody else's stuff, or my trauma still gets to matter 209 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 1: to me, even if somebody else's trauma seems bigger or 210 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 1: larger or more intense. Because there's infinite compassion, everything gets 211 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 1: to matter. So if that's true, then this compassion fatigue 212 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 1: thing goes against that. 213 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:22,679 Speaker 2: It doesn't really make sense. 214 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 1: How is it possible to be burnt out of offering 215 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: compassion if we have an overflowing amount and abundance of it. 216 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 1: And maybe because we've been missing some key parts of 217 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 1: what compassion fatigue really is. And it's not that we 218 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: ran out of compassion. We have to fill up a 219 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: compassion bank. So in an article titled moving from Compassion 220 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:47,440 Speaker 1: Fatigue to Compassion Resilience, Part one, compassion is described to 221 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 1: consist of three parts, noticing, feeling, and responding, and the 222 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 1: feeling part is connected to empathy. Empathy is the emotion 223 00:11:56,760 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 1: I think most of us understand what it is, but 224 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 1: at a deeper level, empathy is the emotion that allows 225 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 1: us to resonate with someone else's feelings with the understanding 226 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: that the other person is the source of the emotion. 227 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:11,080 Speaker 1: It is not my emotion, and I think most of 228 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:14,200 Speaker 1: us assume when we experience empathy then we automatically move 229 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:18,440 Speaker 1: towards a compassionate response, and this happens a lot, but 230 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:22,719 Speaker 1: sometimes it doesn't because of how hard those feelings can 231 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 1: be to sit with. When we are exposed to the 232 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 1: suffering of someone else. We can experience both empathic concern 233 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 1: and empathic distress, and the empathic concern is compassion. That's 234 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 1: what we think we automatically move to, but we don't 235 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:40,679 Speaker 1: automatically move to that, And whether we experience one or 236 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 1: the other, the concern or the distress has a lot 237 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:45,640 Speaker 1: to do with our ability to tolerate distress, our ability 238 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:50,320 Speaker 1: to tolerate hard stuff without becoming overwhelmed and dysregulated by it. 239 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 1: So when we over identify with someone else's feelings or 240 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 1: experience experiences and then we become personally distressed, we are 241 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 1: focusing too much on our own discomfort and tend to 242 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 1: want to distance ourselves or take away that feeling, and 243 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:08,239 Speaker 1: that would not allow us to really offer true compassion. 244 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 1: For example, if I am overidentifying with a client's stuff 245 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:14,719 Speaker 1: too much and I'm like, I want to make these 246 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: feelings go away, I might move to a very solution 247 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:22,079 Speaker 1: focused way of being a therapist. I want to fix this, 248 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 1: I want to solve a solution. I want a da 249 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 1: da da da. I don't really validate and offer them 250 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: compassion and allow them to sit in that and really 251 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:30,439 Speaker 1: allow them to move through that at their own pace, 252 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 1: not really how I personally want to long term operate 253 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:39,480 Speaker 1: as a therapist. And remember when I defined empathy above, 254 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 1: it is resonating with a feeling. Why also maintaining an 255 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 1: emotionally separate sense of self. 256 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 2: I know that I'm. 257 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:49,080 Speaker 1: Resonating with you, but I know that the source of 258 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:52,439 Speaker 1: these emotions are not mine, So I'm not feeling your feelings. 259 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 2: I'm resonating with your feelings. 260 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 1: So empathic distress happens when we can no longer hold 261 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:04,200 Speaker 1: the distinction of self and the other person in this space, 262 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 1: it's natural for somebody to want to withdraw, to want 263 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: to get away from that pain in instead of wanting 264 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: to lean in and offer support. So in the article 265 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 1: moving from Compassion Fatigue to Compassion Resilience, Part two, they 266 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 1: describe that, and this is going to be a lot 267 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: of heavier information, so you might have to like listen 268 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 1: to it and then rewind it and then listen to 269 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 1: it again. 270 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 2: So just hang with me. 271 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 1: They describe that neuroimaging has shown us that self orientation 272 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 1: with empathic distress activates the brain areas involved in the 273 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:41,480 Speaker 1: processing of threat or pain. So with chronic empathic distress, 274 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:44,960 Speaker 1: the dopamine levels with the brain circuits that mediate reward 275 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 1: and motivation become depleted, and so the ongoing depletion of 276 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: dopamine from repeated episodes of empathic distress leads to burnout, 277 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: which makes sense now adopting a other orientation, keeping that 278 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 1: those feelings separate with empathic concern, which is compassion activates 279 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 1: different areas of the brain. So compassion activates the areas 280 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: of the brain linked to reward and affiliation and generates 281 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:16,080 Speaker 1: positive emotions towards suffering, all of which motivate, not hinder 282 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:20,520 Speaker 1: helping behavior. So in this article they say that compassion 283 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: may even be viewed as an emotion regulation strategy that 284 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 1: buffers or counteracts the negative emotions through the generation of 285 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 1: positive emotions. So compassion allows us in a nutshell, in 286 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 1: that sense, having compassion gives us that buffering where I 287 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 1: can sit with these tough emotions in the easier manner 288 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 1: because I'm having the positive emotions that I get from 289 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: the act of offering compassion, because it does, in a 290 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 1: sense feel good to offer support, which is fascinating to me. 291 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 1: So all of this to be said, maybe it's not 292 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 1: compassion that we're lack when we're experiencing compassion fatigue. And 293 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 1: I want people to really hear that because I think 294 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:09,239 Speaker 1: in my personal experience, when I am experiencing compassion fatigue, 295 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 1: I can feel kind of bad about myself. 296 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 2: I feel shame. 297 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:16,200 Speaker 1: I'm like, oh, that's my job, and wait, what does 298 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 1: that say about me if I can't offer compassion to 299 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 1: people that are going through something tough, like what is 300 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 1: wrong with me? But it doesn't sound like it's a 301 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: compassion that we are lacking. It sounds like we're going 302 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 1: through distress and we aren't able to regulate our emotions 303 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: the same way. So again, it's not compassion that we're lacking. 304 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: You're not a worse human than this other person. It's 305 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 1: not compassion that we ran out of. We're lacking the 306 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: ability to properly regulate our emotions. So when we talk 307 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 1: about what we need when we experience compassion fatigue, we 308 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: often talk about the same thing that allows us to 309 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:57,720 Speaker 1: build back up our emotional regulatory bank. We in a 310 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 1: very simple way to explain this, we destress, right, so 311 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:03,920 Speaker 1: we don't go home, take a bath, engage in self care, 312 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 1: hang out with friends, and start depositing more compassion into 313 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:07,960 Speaker 1: our compassion bank. 314 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 2: That's not what happens. 315 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:11,479 Speaker 1: We engage in practices that allow us to regulate our 316 00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:14,160 Speaker 1: nervous system, those same things I just said, go home, 317 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:16,600 Speaker 1: take a bath, engage in self care, hang out with friends, 318 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:20,399 Speaker 1: whatever it is that allows you to destress, to settle 319 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:23,399 Speaker 1: your nervous system. That's what we're doing. We think that 320 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:25,399 Speaker 1: we're getting. Oh, I need some space to build up 321 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:27,920 Speaker 1: more compassion. No, you're creating a space so you can 322 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 1: have a better time, and easier time, and a better 323 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 1: shot at regulating your emotions. The compassion is already there. 324 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 1: We just have to be in a space where we 325 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:40,960 Speaker 1: can access it in order to use it. And I 326 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:44,200 Speaker 1: want to close this out in a tangible way. So 327 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 1: I asked the three therapists that work at Three Quarts Therapy, 328 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 1: my practice, how they recognize that they are moving into 329 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 1: a space of compassion fatigue, and what they do to 330 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:56,360 Speaker 1: regulate that. And I want to share some of the answers. 331 00:17:56,440 --> 00:18:00,639 Speaker 1: So one person said, I recognize it by dread or 332 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 1: by being short and overly critical. Because I don't usually 333 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 1: experience a lot of judgment. I become overly solution focused 334 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 1: and I care less about a lot, which I love 335 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:12,639 Speaker 1: this answer because I do that same thing overly, and 336 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:15,439 Speaker 1: I mentioned it above overly solution focus. I want to 337 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: find an issue so we can have this pain, this frustration, 338 00:18:18,680 --> 00:18:20,400 Speaker 1: these feelings that I don't like and I don't want 339 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:22,640 Speaker 1: to sit with. I want them to be gone. So 340 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 1: she said, I like to journal, I retreat, I voice, 341 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 1: text cat vents, I have more quiet time. I do 342 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:33,359 Speaker 1: hot yoga, and I don't commit to social plans. So 343 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:36,040 Speaker 1: you do things that allow you to regulate and come 344 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:40,120 Speaker 1: back down to that balance. Another therapist said, I think 345 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:43,400 Speaker 1: I recognize compassion fatigue when I consistently dread seeing clients 346 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:46,919 Speaker 1: and get overwhelmed more easily by small things, and I 347 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 1: get very irritable towards the people I love when asked 348 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:53,920 Speaker 1: to do something helpful or care or literally asked anything. 349 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:57,119 Speaker 1: I usually journal out my frustrations and clear my weekend 350 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:00,600 Speaker 1: for self care time. I also vent to my therapist friends. 351 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 1: And then another therapist said, I recognize it coming up 352 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 1: when I don't feel excited about going into work. I 353 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: recognize it when I'm counting down the minutes in every session. 354 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:10,919 Speaker 1: And what I do is I take time off. I 355 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:14,160 Speaker 1: create more work boundaries. I think about lessening my caseload 356 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 1: in life, I create more alone time or spend time 357 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 1: with my partner, and I'm also more intentional about one 358 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: on one time with friends instead of hanging out in 359 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 1: big groups. And so I wanted to share those to 360 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:27,399 Speaker 1: give you some tangible ideas of what it feels like 361 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 1: for certain people and how it doesn't feel like them. 362 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 1: But none of them are saying I decide I hate 363 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:36,640 Speaker 1: my job. And that's what's really interesting about especially those 364 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:39,600 Speaker 1: who are in the helping profession, but also think about 365 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:41,880 Speaker 1: when we're experiencing compassion fatigue. 366 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:44,199 Speaker 2: When we are caring for a loved one. It's not 367 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 2: that usually I hate that. 368 00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:49,119 Speaker 1: I think about if my mom has to move in 369 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 1: with me and I become her caretaker, I want to 370 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:54,600 Speaker 1: be able to do that. I would happily do that. 371 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: I would rather that than other options. And at the 372 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:04,239 Speaker 1: same time, that is going to essentially move me in 373 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:08,000 Speaker 1: at times to a place where I need to regulate myself. 374 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:11,560 Speaker 1: I'm gonna get overwhelmed. So it's not that I decide 375 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 1: that I hate that I have to. 376 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 2: Help my mom. 377 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 1: This is future focused and with my job now, it's 378 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 1: not that I decide that I hate my job or 379 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 1: I learned that my job is not for me. It's 380 00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:25,640 Speaker 1: that I have to have these keys, these clues that say, hey, 381 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 1: you're overwhelmed, you've taken on too much. You're pushing past 382 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:33,200 Speaker 1: what you have. So there are some things to pull 383 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:35,199 Speaker 1: you back into that space where you can offer what 384 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,160 Speaker 1: you know that you want and love to offer, and 385 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 1: you can do what you want and love to do. 386 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:42,440 Speaker 1: Much like this is popping into my head because I'm 387 00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 1: rewatching all ted Lasso. But think about professional athletes. They 388 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:48,960 Speaker 1: can burn out their bodies. They have to rest their bodies, 389 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:51,679 Speaker 1: they have to recover, they have to do things that 390 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 1: allow them to continue to do what they love. It's 391 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 1: not that when their body they pull a muscle, or 392 00:20:57,880 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: they do this, or they overwork this. 393 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:02,480 Speaker 2: Part or whatever. You know. 394 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 1: I'm not a sports physical therapists person, so don't have 395 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:08,080 Speaker 1: a technical words to use. But when they have an injury, 396 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:10,119 Speaker 1: it's not that they decide, oh well, I hate my 397 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:12,840 Speaker 1: job and I hate playing this sport. It's I have 398 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 1: got to rest so I can recover, so I can 399 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:19,119 Speaker 1: go back and do the things that I love. And 400 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 1: so I want to encourage everybody out there one this 401 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:24,880 Speaker 1: is something that we all experience at times. We all 402 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:28,679 Speaker 1: can experience. It doesn't say anything negative about you. What 403 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 1: it does is it says, Hey, I'm not recovering the 404 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,719 Speaker 1: way that my body needs to. I'm pushing my body 405 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:37,560 Speaker 1: past its limit. And I really think it's going to 406 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 1: be helpful for me. And I think for a lot 407 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:42,679 Speaker 1: of people to start thinking about this is Oh, I 408 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:45,800 Speaker 1: haven't run out of compassion. I don't have less compassion. 409 00:21:45,880 --> 00:21:49,199 Speaker 1: I don't have less care than these other people. I 410 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:52,720 Speaker 1: just might have a smaller window of tolerance or I've 411 00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:56,400 Speaker 1: pushed myself past my window of tolerance and that person hasn't. 412 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 2: So instead of comparing the amount of. 413 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:01,359 Speaker 1: Compassion I might have with somebody else, it's we all 414 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:04,440 Speaker 1: have infinite compassion. However, we all have to be able 415 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:07,399 Speaker 1: to set ourselves up so we can access that compassion. 416 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:09,959 Speaker 2: So that is going to do it for today. 417 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:13,000 Speaker 1: If you guys have any questions, feedback, comments, you can 418 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 1: send an email to me Katherine at You Need Therapy Podcast. 419 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:20,439 Speaker 1: If you have any feedback you want to give to me, 420 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:22,960 Speaker 1: you can send that there as well. Please, if you 421 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 1: have not done so, rate and review the podcast wherever 422 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:28,359 Speaker 1: you listen to it. That is so helpful for us 423 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 1: and I really love. Actually I try not to read 424 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 1: the reviews on those platforms. 425 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 2: Sometimes I don't know. 426 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:38,920 Speaker 1: I have read reviews on other people's podcasts and people 427 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:41,640 Speaker 1: can be quite ruthless. But I really do love reading 428 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 1: the feedback that you send, whether it's on Instagram or 429 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:46,400 Speaker 1: in an email. So I appreciate when you guys reach 430 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 1: out and do that. Like I mentioned before, I talk 431 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 1: to those therapists to give you, guys an idea of 432 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:54,199 Speaker 1: real life examples of what this looks like and feel like. 433 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:57,119 Speaker 1: Well I have if you guys did not know that, 434 00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 1: I have a practice in Tennessee called Three Chords. There 435 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:03,560 Speaker 1: we can see clients all over the state of Tennessee 436 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:07,639 Speaker 1: in person and virtually. Sad we cannot see clients outside 437 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:10,160 Speaker 1: of our state because of licensing laws. But if you're 438 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:13,800 Speaker 1: somebody who is looking for therapy or doesn't know where 439 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:17,560 Speaker 1: to start, we have three four if you conclude me, 440 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 1: four a therapists that actually do love doing what we do, 441 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:22,359 Speaker 1: and I'd love to help set you up with that 442 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:23,600 Speaker 1: if that's something that you. 443 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 2: Are interested in. So for that, go to three Courts 444 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:27,200 Speaker 2: Therapy dot com. 445 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:30,400 Speaker 1: You can read about us individually our bios and reach 446 00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 1: out to three courts as a whole or to the 447 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:36,480 Speaker 1: individual therapist that you resonate with. Online, you can follow 448 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:39,800 Speaker 1: me at cat dot defada and at ing therapy podcasts 449 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 1: and until next time until couch Talks on Wednesday. 450 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:55,200 Speaker 2: I hope you guys have the day you need to have. Bye.