Physical and emotional exhaustion resulting from caring for others in distress, particularly common among healthcare workers, therapists, and caregivers. It can lead to decreased empathy and increased cynicism.
Coined in 1992 by trauma specialist Charles Figley, combining 'compassion' from Latin 'compati' meaning to suffer with, and 'fatigue' from French meaning weariness. The term emerged as understanding of secondary trauma in helping professions grew.
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