Overview

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Welcome to the National Guard Family Program e-learning lesson, “Help for the Helper: Dealing with Compassion Fatigue.” Caregivers are very sensitive to the traumas and challenges that other people experience. Service members can return from war scarred in psychological and physical ways, and caregivers often experience overwhelming sadness and compassion for those who suffer. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to define compassion fatigue, identify signs of compassion fatigue, and recognize tools and techniques for self-care to avoid burnout.

Caregivers’ work can impact their emotional health.

Caregivers are often eager to support service members and their families as they struggle with a variety of challenges. They seek to make a positive impact on the lives of those who have been physically or psychologically wounded. While this can be satisfying work, caregivers must also learn how to manage their own well-being and maintain their emotional strength. Failure to do so can hinder their ability to support others on an ongoing basis.

This lesson will help you understand and manage compassion fatigue.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Define compassion fatigue;
Identify signs of compassion fatigue;
Recognize tools and techniques for self care to avoid burnout.