Affective empathy can lead to emotional contagion, where individuals absorb negative emotions from others. This process can harm the empathizers, resulting in burnout rather than alleviating the distress of those they aim to help. Research indicates that professions heavily reliant on empathy, such as social work, experience high burnout rates, with 50 to 75% affected. Emotional contagion does not equate to a reduction in others' suffering, much like how an infection does not lessen another's symptoms. This principle extends to caregivers, who often experience burnout while tending to loved ones with serious health or mental health issues. The emotional toll of constantly engaging with others' struggles contributes significantly to this phenomenon, emphasizing the need for self-care among those in emotionally demanding roles.