Topic 2: Signs & Symptoms of Burnout or Compassion Fatigue in Peer Support

Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. In peer support, burnout can lead to detachment, frustration, ethical misjudgment, and decreased effectiveness.

Compassion fatigue, often referred to as the ‘cost of caring,’ is an emotional and physical exhaustion that occurs when helping professionals are exposed to the suffering of others over prolonged periods. For peer support workers, this is particularly relevant as they often provide emotional support and guidance to individuals facing challenging life circumstances.

Signs of Burnout:

• Emotional exhaustion: Feeling drained and unable to cope.

• Loss of motivation: Losing passion for peer work.

• Detachment from peers: Becoming indifferent or emotionally distant.

• Reduced ethical awareness: Making decisions without full consideration.

• Physical symptoms: Headaches, fatigue, and disrupted sleep.

While compassion fatigue and burnout share some similarities, they are distinct concepts. Burnout typically results from work-related stress, such as high workload and lack of resources, whereas compassion fatigue is emotionally driven, arising from prolonged exposure to others’ trauma.

Key Differences:

• Burnout is related to job-related stress, inefficiencies, and high demands.
• Compassion fatigue stems from emotional exhaustion due to empathy overload.

Example:

A peer specialist begins feeling resentful toward the individuals they support and finds themselves disengaging from their work. They start making quick ethical decisions without fully considering the impact.

Best Practice: Self-awareness is key—if signs of burnout or compassion fatigue appear, take action to restore balance.