Compassion Fatigue

There are many reasons why people become dog groomers. Money, flexibility, opportunity, environment, but there is one thing most will ultimately have in common: they want to help dogs.

As their time in the industry progresses, a groomer will most likely see an increase in clients, an expanding workload and they may start to experience what is often referred to as burnout. If you haven’t heard this term thrown around then lucky you! But unfortunately, most will be familiar with it and more often than not when people are talking about it, they're associating it with the stress on their bodies. Strained backs, hand pain, sore shoulders, you name it... but the one body part that is rarely talking about is the stress on the brain.

So let's take a look at compassion fatigue.

What is compassion fatigue?

Compassion fatigue is essentially emotional exhaustion, caused by a constant exposure to both the suffering and needs of others. It is most often associated with industries such as healthcare and social work.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE DOG GROOMERS!

Compassion fatigue can impact anyone who works as a caregiver and (just so you know we do our research) the Britannica dictionary quite literally defines a ‘Dog Groomer’ as “a person who cleans and cares for an animal”. Not only do dog groomers care for the dog on their table but they’re quite often required to deal with anxious or overbearing owners concerned about the state of their pet.

Symptoms of compassion fatigue

Compassion fatigue can manifest in a variety of ways, both physically and emotionally.

Some common symptoms include:

• Feeling emotionally exhausted or drained

• Feeling overwhelmed or helpless

• Losing enthusiasm for your work

• Feeling irritable or impatient with clients or coworkers

• Experiencing physical symptoms like headaches, insomnia, or stomach problems

• Having trouble concentrating or making decisions

• Feeling detached or numb

These symptoms can make it difficult to provide the level of care and attention that your clients and their pets deserve, which can lead to burnout and even professional dissatisfaction.

Sources of compassion fatigue in dog grooming

Compassion fatigue in dog grooming can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Repeated exposure to animal suffering and pain

• Dealing with difficult or demanding clients

• Long hours or a heavy workload

• Lack of support from coworkers or management

• Personal stressors outside of work

Compassion fatigue can make it extremely challenging to provide the level of care that’s not only needed but expected and consequent unhappy clients and job dissatisfaction only feed the beast that it is.

So, how do we manage and where possible, prevent compassion fatigue?

·         Take care of yourself! You can’t keep taking food from the bowl unless you’re refilling it! Match your output of compassion with the input of compassion to yourself. Make sure you’re getting enough rest, eating properly and on particularly taxing days, engage in an activity that brings you pleasure and relaxation.

·         Set your limits. It’s imperative to have solid boundaries in an industry where doing extras or favours can quickly become part of the job description. But the sad truth is, the more we do these things, the more it becomes expected and often unappreciated. Be realistic with your workload and know when to say ‘no’! If you’re someone who can’t say no, consider allocating specific times in your schedule for the unexpected extras or favours.  

·         Ask for help! Pressure within an object needs to be released or it combusts, people are no different. Often a vent with colleagues, people with a greater understanding of the industry, can be enough to navigate the emotions. If you’re not sure you have that relationship with your coworkers, a chat with family or friends can provide just as much support and certainly don’t forget about the professionals – psychologists, counsellors, hairdressers – okay, maybe not your hairdresser.

·         Take your breaks! We all know the big one: lunch. We’ve known since we were cavepeople that we need food to survive, but have you heard of lunch’s much smaller and very underrated cousin, the humble toilet break? We love her because she’s short, sweet and takes you away from work for a quick moment of solace. The real kicker is that you can take this moment at any time and without the need for the toilet. Taking a step back, a quick breather and resetting can be enough to level the emotions.

·         Diversify! Keep work engaging and look for opportunities that can serve you and your goals. If there are situations that you find you’re dealing with regularly that are more depleting than they are fulfilling, start to look at how you can change them.

Compassion fatigue is a very real and underestimated condition, but one that certainly can be managed and overcome! When the battery of our clippers is exhausted, we re-charge it...

 So why should we have any different approach to the powerhouse of the body, our beautiful brains!

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