Parenting neurodivergent children, such as those with autism or ADHD, can give rise to compassion fatigue, a state of emotional and physical exhaustion resulting from the deep empathy and care required. Unlike burnout, which is work-related, compassion fatigue stems from the emotional labor of parenting and manifests as irritability, guilt, and sadness. Beyond exhaustion, parents often experience grief for the systemic challenges their children face and the divergence from their envisioned future, leading to profound emotional complexity and a feeling of diminished well-being.
"Compassion fatigue in parenting is a silent erosion of well-being that masquerades as just being tired, but its effects are much more profound."
"Burnout results from prolonged stress, often related to work or performance pressures, but compassion fatigue stems from emotional labor—the deep empathy involved in caregiving."
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