the other day I was expecting a friend
to come over so when the doorbell rang
hello friend
oh hello oh you're not my friend I'm not
I mean like we could be maybe eventually
if I got to know you but like you're not
right now anyway what's up yeah
anyway ma'am I'm here for Amnesty
International I wanted to talk to you
about the refugee crisis do you care
about that right now right now honestly
no honestly what I care about right now
is the attack on a woman's right to
choose like for instance if you were
dead if you weren't an organ donor I
cannot touch your organs that is how
much we respect body autonomy in this
country even if you're dead
if I don't have your consent I cannot go
into your body and take your liver Wow
okay valid freaked out that is very
scary but I was hoping to talk to you
about the refugee crisis and eventually
somehow the conversation turned to this
look I really appreciate what you're
doing I applaud it I respect it I think
it's so great but I just can't care
about everything you know I mean I can
but then I would just be like
emotionally drained I think we as
humanity can make the strongest impact
if we have like two to three causes tops
that we have a personal connection to
that we champion for you clearly that's
refugees for me that suicide-prevention
the rights of women and people of color
and animals I respect that and I
appreciate you hearing me out
but if you could add the refugee crisis
to that list do you like animals yeah I
have a litter of kittens that I'm
fostering right now that are looking for
home I'm actually more of a dog person
okay well have you ever owned a cat no
well if you raise a cat as your own it
basically acts like a dog okay
no just come in and and you can meet
them really quick I'm pretty busy I
actually have a lot of houses to hit so
well what if I make a monthly pledge to
the Amnesty International you could meet
the net thank you and as silly as the
story is it made me think about
compassion fatigue you know what was
most commonly seen among health care
professionals whose work puts them in
situations where they witnessed
suffering on a daily basis is now
experienced by all of us because we are
being broadcasted every tragedy
instantly and consistently all day long
as a result of this overexposure we find
ourselves unable to empathize anymore
because we're all just so emotionally
drained and if we don't recognize it we
can find that our compassion dwindles
down
so the five signs of compassion fatigue
are apathy anger isolation negativity
and physical fatigue let's be honest if
you're a person on the internet who
stays up-to-date with the news and has
any form of compassion you're probably
experiencing this at some point I know
that I am and I'm sure that Amnesty
International guy was too which is why
he wouldn't come see my adorable kittens
and to prevent and/or deal with
compassion fatigue practice self-care
set emotional boundaries build and use a
support network reduce your stress use
active and healthy coping measures and
pick your causes sometimes it seems like
the world and its problems
are just so overwhelming and you want to
do good you want to help you want to be
a good person and I've realized that for
me this means that doing what I can for
the causes that most passionately speak
to me is paramount and of course
sometimes those priorities will shift
when there's like a natural disaster or
an event that traumatizes the nation but
ultimately I believe in maintaining a
balance between the compassion you have
for your causes and the compassion you
have for yourself and your own mental
well-being because you can't help others
if you need help first so help yourself
first I'm Anna Akana and thank you so
much to Squarespace for sponsoring
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