Navigating Compassion Fatigue

Navigating Compassion Fatigue

Compassion fatigue is not uncommon in the nonprofit space.?

However, sometimes when we get into these situations and we’re feeling guilt and shame, it can be hard to realize that what we are experiencing is compassion fatigue.?

That’s what Dimple Dhabalia and I discussed on episode 37 of the Lead with Heart podcast.?

Dimple has an amazing background in human-centered leadership.

She is the founder of Roots in the Clouds, a boutique consulting firm specializing in normalizing workplace mental health care and using the power of story to heal individual and organizational trauma and moral injury.

If you want to check that out, I’ll add the episode player below so you can tune into the full episode where we discuss trauma-informed leadership and creating a psychologically safe work environment.

During our conversation, Dimple pointed out that it can be hard to start investing in yourself when you are experiencing compassion fatigue. So, in this article, we’re going to learn more about:

1. Creating Mindful Awareness?
2. The Five Nervous System Responses
3. Practicing Self-Compassion

1. Creating Mindful Awareness

Dimple explains that she always likes to bring it back to neurobiology and science, it helps people fully understand the concept.

She refers to shaping stories, which are events and experiences often from childhood that create the lens through which we then experience the world.

“Those kinds of shaping stories have created really deeply etched neural pathways in our brains. So if you think about a fresh field of snow and then imagine a tractor driving through that, it creates those tire tracks. That's what has happened in our brains over decades of experiencing these same patterns and the same stories that we tell ourselves. We've created these neural networks that become our default reactions in certain situations.” - Dimple Dhabalia

The first way that Dimple suggests to start investing in yourself is to create what she calls mindful awareness.?

Through this mindful awareness, you can start to notice the internal stories that come up for you. “For example, when we're in a situation where we feel ourselves starting to get stressed out, angry, or upset, start to notice what activated that response.”

2. The Five Nervous System Responses

Dimple explains that there are five nervous system responses and that these are actual survival responses that we have.

1. Fight

Fight usually shows up as blame. “It can show up as violence, criticism, or judgment. All of these things can be directed outwards toward others, or toward ourselves.”

1. Flight

Flight can be literally getting up and leaving the situation, but it can also be emotionally leaving the situation.?

“So this is the part where we see a lot of addictions, anything to help us forget that we are in this space right now that doesn't feel good, but it's also the space in which we really struggle to make meaningful connections with other people.”

1. Freeze

“Freeze is that idea of the deer caught in headlights. We're stuck.” We can't make decisions, we feel paralized. Sometimes, it can even be hard to express what you’re feeling or thinking when you’re in a freeze state.

1. Fix

Fix, according to Dimple, is an “if then.” This can be you telling yourself things like “If I just worked harder, then I'd be more valuable to my organization.” Or “If I were a better listener then this person would love me.”

The big problem here is that we’re focused on trying to fix the situation rather than be with it as it is.

1. Fake

Fake is the perfectionist. That “fake it till you make it” concept. The truth behind it is that we’re not allowing anyone to see our vulnerability. Needless to say this can be very hard to maintain.

Dimple explains that by noticing your activated response versus your actual response, you can start to notice any patterns that are occurring.?

You can then become more aware of what is happening, where it is showing up in your body, and what your reaction to it is.

“If we can start to notice that, then we can start to shift it and create new neural pathways, which takes time, but we have to do it over and over. But the mindful awareness is really the first step.” - Dimple Dhabalia

3. Practicing Self-Compassion

The next thing you can do is practice self-compassion. Dimple explains that this is extremely important when creating mindful awareness.

“I promise you that when you start going down this path, number one, you start noticing everything and then you're really hard on yourself. And for every two steps forward you take, you will backslide. So in those moments of backsliding, [we need to] have that self-compassion and kindness for ourselves so that we can keep moving forward.” - Dimple Dhabalia

In conclusion, understanding and recognizing compassion fatigue cannot be overlooked anymore in the nonprofit sector.?

Through mindful awareness, recognizing nervous system responses, and practicing self-compassion, we can begin to navigate and address this challenging issue effectively.

Nonprofit teams often work in silos, which can lead to staff burnout and donor attrition, ultimately, hurts the people we serve. I help nonprofits raise more money through fundraising training, “done for you” fund development strategy, and campaign implementation.?

?? If you want to learn more about ways we can collaborate and work together, please visit my website, https://thesavvyfundraiser.com/ .

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