Podcast: Episode 45 - The One about Compassion Fatigue with Christine DeGrazia, RN

Cold Open Question of the Week: How do you recognize when you’re stressed?Tonight we welcome Christine DeGrazia, a Registered Nurse and author of The Self-Compassion Protocol, a book for caregivers who are searching for guidance and answers on how to regain their compassion and take back control of their life.TheBrianLennonShow is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.In 2020, DeGrazia was working as an administrator at a long-term health care facility at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in America. She discusses the personal challenges she faced as a leader, nurse, and even a mother, dealing with the stresses brought on by the virus. What is compassion fatigue? It's the feeling that you have no more empathy left to give. Compassion fatigue is something that mostly strikes health care workers, first responders, law enforcement officers and at-home caregivers.Christine tells us about the details of her personal journey, including how to recognize compassion fatigue. She also breaks down the differences between depression, burnout, and compassion fatigue:* The repeated exposure to trauma that leads to compassion fatigue often alters a nurse’s ability to feel compassion. Burnout doesn’t.* A stressful, negative work environment causes burnout, whereas the impact of caring for others causes compassion fatigue.Christine also discusses the importance of using time off from work to recharge, the impending exodus of healthcare workers by 2025, and how she has used her struggles to help other caregivers by calling attention to compassion fatigue with her book and sharing her story with local nursing students, hospitals and care facilities.To learn more about Christine and The Self Compassion Protocol, check out these resources:Personal Website: christinedegrazia.com/* You can download the introduction of the book or purchase the book* Take a FREE Compassion Depletion Quiz* Send a direct message to ChristineThank you for reading TheBrianLennonShow. This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to TheBrianLennonShow at thebrianlennonshow.substack.com/subscribe