But when two neuroscientists, Olga Klimecki and Tania Singer, reviewed the evidence, they discovered that “compassion fatigue” is a
misnomer
. Caring itself is not costly. What drains people is not merely witnessing others’ pain but feeling incapable of
alleviating
it. In times of sustained
anguish
, empathy is a recipe for more distress, and in some cases even depression. What we need instead is compassion. Although they’re often used
interchangeably
, empathy and compassion aren’t the same. Empathy absorbs others’ emotions as your own: “I’m hurting for you.” Compassion focuses your action on their emotions: “I see that you’re hurting, and I’m here for you.”
