What to know about crisis fatigue?
Crisis fatigue is a term that people use to describe a burnout response to the chronic stress that challenging events can cause. It is not a formal medical diagnosis, but people who feel that they are experiencing crisis fatigue may have very real mental or physical symptoms. Anyone can experience crisis fatigue. However, frontline workers and other people the crisis most severely impacts are likely to be most affected. For example, during a pandemic, healthcare workers and emergency responders can have long shifts and ongoing stress, with little time to recuperate. Mental health clinicians and news reports are also extremely vulnerable to crisis fatigue. Some people are also at higher risk of mental health conditions, in general, than others. There is no single approach to coping with crisis fatigue, but strategies such as maintaining a routine, talking to loved ones, and trying activities that provide a distraction and build resilience may help. People with crisis fatigue may feel better when they are no longer in the situation causing it, but in the interim, they may benefit from undergoing mental health treatment to manage its effects. Anyone who feels overwhelmed during a crisis can seek help from a mental health professional.
(Credits: www.medicalnewstoday.com)
