compassion fatigue

[piranha]

has me in its grip. maybe that's a self-preservation thing. looking at the news and imagining what it's like (thousands dead in the wake of hurricane stan, tens of thousands dead in pakistan/kashmir/india earthquake, millions of people homeless), so soon after katrina is too much; my mind contracts and withdraws.

i am reminded of why i stopped being an activist. it whittled me down to the mental bone. i don't have what it takes to care deeply about others' misery; unless i can actually put my hands to work for their cause, i just get eaten up. better to stay away from the news. at any given moment uncounted people are homeless and grieving while i sit in comfort at my desk with a belly full of warm food. survivor guilt powering incessant news searches isn't helping them any.

i go sort out clothing and recyclables to donate.

Comments

[intenselaura.livejournal.com]

I like the phrase "compassion fatigue". Yes, that fits right now. Thanks.

[jodawi.livejournal.com]

i try to maintain uncaring asshole status while contributing to worthy causes

[pir-anha.livejournal.com]

hahahahaha!

ok, you said "try".

[firecat]

yes, yes, yes.

[pperiwinkle.livejournal.com]

Yesterday I was doing my morning "news lyte" scan of Google and MSNBC, and, like you, I felt too overwhelmingly sad. I wanted some happy news, so I followed a link about reuniting pet owners from New Orleans with their pets.
And oh, there was a story about a double amputee who had managed to get himself and his dog on the roof, but he was forced to leave the dog behind, and there were pictures of him being re-united with this big standard poodle, and..oh,...I was crying.

Last night,I decided what I needed was lap time with a purring cat, and luckily had a cat who agreed that that was a fine plan.