What term describes a stress disorder that leads to a gradual loss of compassion over time?

The correct term that describes a stress disorder leading to a gradual loss of compassion over time is compassion fatigue. This concept refers specifically to the physical, emotional, and spiritual depletion that caregivers and those in helping professions experience as a result of prolonged exposure to the suffering of others. Compassion fatigue is characterized by a diminished capacity to empathize and connect with individuals due to the cumulative emotional burden that comes from dealing with trauma or distress on a regular basis.

While emotional exhaustion, burnout, and vicarious trauma are related concepts, they emphasize different aspects of stress experienced in high-demand environments. Emotional exhaustion often focuses on the overwhelming sense of fatigue and depletion that comes from stress, but it may not specifically address the aspect of compassion towards others. Burnout encompasses a broader range of symptoms, including feelings of cynicism and reduced professional efficacy, and while it can include elements of compassion fatigue, it does not focus exclusively on the loss of compassion. Vicarious trauma describes the transformation in a person’s inner experience resulting from empathetic engagement with trauma, which can lead to intense feelings of fear, anxiety, or hopelessness, but again, it does not pinpoint the gradual loss of compassion itself.

In summary, compassion fatigue is the most precise term for a state of diminished