Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Burnout

Anyone else feeling that isolation and the gravity of this pandemic is cutting a bit deeper this week? Just me?

This week seems to be hitting me hard. I'm feeling spent, burnt out. COVID-19 hasn't touched me personally at this point, but the news cycle seems a little more dire, a little more hopeless.

This article may outline what is to blame - empathic distress (as the author describes it, emotional quicksand which can be overwhelming).

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-made-practical/201911/how-avoid-empathy-burnout

Empathic concern, on the other hand, is a healthier, 'other-focused' empathy. Empathy with an action plan, motivating us to try to make things better.

So, time for me to reframe, and set myself about ways to help those grieving, those hurting, or those just generally having a rough time.

While we all need to be settling into empathy right now, don't forget to take care of yourselves.

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