2.3 What Are the Signs?

According to the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH) (n.d.) signs and symptoms may vary in intensity and present as a singular symptom or an assortment of several symptoms:

• Loss of interest
• Difficulties demonstrating understanding and/or objectiveness
• Exhibiting increased signs of irritability or faulting others; displaying more withdrawal behaviours
• Reduction in self-worth
• Unrealistic expectations
• Diminished sense of joy
• Feelings of incompetence
• Feelings of powerlessness
• Habitual lateness
• Engage in unhealthy coping mechanisms (such as self-medicating with substances, etc.)
  Withdrawal from activities, situations and/or engaging in diminished capacity

Helping professionals, such as those working in the homelessness sector, may experience a variety of these symptoms and express compassion fatigue in varying ways. Recognizing early signs can be beneficial, as well as understanding that enduring these symptoms is unnecessary. Self-assessment tools such as The Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) can help professionals measure how work and other situations are being managed, assessing compassion fatigue and burnout risk (CAMH, n.d.).