Navigating the Unholy Trinity of Burnout: Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Vicarious Trauma

In this episode, Jamie dives into the unholy trinity of burnout: burnout itself, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma. This trio is familiar to many in helping professions, ministry positions, or volunteer roles. Understanding their definitions and root causes is essential for preventing—and overcoming—each of them.

As Christian helpers, we can't ignore these issues. Instead, we must prioritize our well-being to serve others more effectively and model healthier life rhythms. Together as the Church, we have a unique opportunity to tackle this unholy trinity of burnout head-on and help people find the support they need to lead well and “do good, better” from a place of rest.

RESOURCES: 

Free e-book: 101 Ways to Overcome Burnout (includes 94 pages of helpful tools, research, and encouragement)

7 Ways Pastors Can Avoid Burning Out with Ray Chang

How close to burnout are you? Take our free 10-question quiz to find out.

Soul Care for Wounded Healers: guided journaling exercise (audio resource)

Find Calm in the Chaos: 11-minute guided prayer (audio resource)

Seven Crucial Steps for Self-Care with Holly Oxhandler

Spiritual First Aid certificate course

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This episode was produced by Wildfire Creative.

Theme Song “Turning Over Tables” by The Brilliance

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Follow us on Twitter: @kentannan | @drjamieaten 

Follow on Instagram: @wildfirecreative

(Note to the listener: In this podcast, sometimes we'll have evangelicals, and sometimes we won't. We believe learning how to “do good, better” involves listening to many perspectives, with different insights and understanding. Sometimes it will make us uncomfortable; sometimes we'll agree, and sometimes we won't. We think that's good. We want to listen for correction. Especially in our blind spots.)

Jamie Aten, Ph.D., and Kent Annan, M.Div. co-direct the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College and are also the co-founders of Spiritual First Aid.

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