Is compassion fatigue the same as not caring?

No. It often means the caring part of the work has been stretched too far without enough recovery or support.

Glossary

Compassion fatigue

Compassion fatigue describes feeling worn down by repeated caring work. A doula may still care deeply while feeling emotionally depleted, numb, irritable, or less able to be present.

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Why it matters

Compassion fatigue can overlap with burnout and secondary traumatic stressSecondary traumatic stressSecondary traumatic stress describes stress symptoms that can come from being close to someone else's trauma, including intrusive thoughts, sleep trouble, avoidance, numbness, or feeling on edge.. Naming it can make peer support, therapy, backup coverage, and rest easier to prioritize.

Vicarious trauma explainer Self-care checklist Burnout research article