The Cost of Caring

2:46

Companion Slides

Burnout vs. compassion fatigue vs. vicarious trauma — knowing which one you're carrying.

Key Concepts

  • Burnout: exhaustion from overwork — not trauma-specific
  • Compassion fatigue: emotional depletion from empathic engagement
  • Vicarious trauma: your worldview and nervous system change from exposure
  • All three are occupational hazards — not personal failures
  • Recognizing which one you're carrying is the first step

Part of

Module 5: Self-Care for Helpers

Burnout, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and building a sustainable self-care practice.

Up next

Building Your Self-Care Plan

Five domains of self-care: physical, emotional, relational, spiritual, professional.