compassion fatigue
nounDefinition of compassion fatigue
1
medical
: the physical and mental exhaustion and emotional withdrawal experienced by those who care for sick or traumatized people over an extended period of time
Unlike burnout, which is caused by everyday work stresses (dealing with insurance companies, making treatment choices), compassion fatigue results from taking on the emotional burden of a patient's agony.— Tim Jarvis
2
: apathy or indifference toward the suffering of others as the result of overexposure to tragic news stories and images and the subsequent appeals for assistance
Several fundraising experts said the Las Vegas collection may trail other donation efforts for several reasons, including "compassion fatigue" … . "Compassion fatigue is a real thing. There have been so many things that happened this year," [Sandy] Rees said. "But it does get overwhelming, and I think people start to tune out."— David Montero
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