A Conversation About: Crisis Fatigue
November 3, 2025
The X-Podcast: Real Conversations About Mental Health
A Conversation About: Crisis Fatigue
Listen to all episodes at https://blubrry.com/studio_talk_mental_health/
Episode #59 Crisis Fatigue
What is crisis fatigue?
In this episode, The X-Team discusses what crisis fatigue is and how it is similar and different from burnout. They provide examples and some things that you can do to prevent it. They also discuss some tips on what to do to help yourself if you are experiencing crisis fatigue.
Crisis fatigue is a term used to describe the physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that arises from prolonged exposure to stressful events or situations.
It's a form of burnout that happens when people experience a prolonged crisis event or crisis events on repeat, leading to chronic stress and fatigue.
Crisis fatigue is a type of burnout that happens when people experience a prolonged crisis event or crisis events on repeat. Thanks to social media—and the media in general—we're almost constantly exposed to the negative events happening around the world, and it can be tough to tune out (and we often don't think we should).
While acute stress can be intense and all-consuming, it's also limited in duration. When we know there is an end to, or hopefully, a way through, a crisis, it can be easier to mentally overcome.
On the other hand, longer-lasting sources of stress can often feel inescapable and unchangeable, causing crisis fatigue.
While these events are generally time-limited, it often doesn't feel that way for the people experiencing them directly or indirectly.
Examples of why it happens
Crisis fatigue can occur due to various situations, such as:
Prolonged conflict or war: Witnessing or being directly impacted by violence and instability.
Pandemics: Navigating uncertainty, restrictions, and the threat of illness.
Economic troubles: Experiencing financial hardship or uncertainty and financial meltdowns.
Natural disasters: Dealing with the aftermath of earthquakes, hurricanes, or other catastrophic events.
Social unrest or racial injustice: Witnessing discrimination and experiencing feelings of powerlessness, as we are currently seeing in the US.
Political crisis and chaos, like we are currently experiencing in the US.
Terrorist attacks: 9/11, etc.
Symptoms of crisis fatigue
Over time, this chronic stress can take a toll on both emotional and physical well-being.
Crisis fatigue can manifest as physical exhaustion, mental detachment, and apathy.
Symptoms of crisis fatigue can include physical exhaustion, mental detachment, apathy, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, social withdrawal, irritability, lack of interest, and lethargy.
Crisis fatigue can significantly impact mental health and should be recognized as a valid experience. Seeking professional help from a licensed mental health professional is important for managing symptoms and maintaining mental well-being.
The following article was written and published by Kendra Cherry, MSEd. Kendra Cherry is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."
Understanding Crisis Fatigue
Crisis fatigue is not a distinct condition recognized in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition" (also known as the DSM-5). Instead, it is a phenomenon that people often experience when faced with a chronic stressor that creates continuous challenges in their lives.
The COVID-19 pandemic is an example of ongoing stress that may cause people to experience crisis fatigue. Other situations that can lead to this response include economic disasters, natural disasters, social unrest, racial discrimination, mass shootings, and war.
In such situations, there are often immediate effects of the stress (such as being discriminated against, experiencing personal losses, or dealing with violence) and prolonged effects that continue to take a toll even after the initial stressor is no longer present.
Signs and Symptoms
Not everyone experiences crisis fatigue in the same way or to the same degree. Some common signs of this type of burnout include:
Physical exhaustion may manifest as fatigue, insomnia, or physical illness. Changes in sleep habits, constant physical tension, and loss of appetite can also contribute to low energy levels.
Mental detachment can involve feeling numb or disconnected from others or even the events of one's life. People might feel almost like they are passively watching the events of someone else's life rather than living through them as an active participant.
Apathy may manifest as a lack of motivation, hopelessness, or cynicism. This sense of apathy doesn't just appear as a lack of concern about the self; people experiencing crisis fatigue may have problems empathizing with others.
Physical symptoms can also occur when we face short-term stress. People often experience rapid breathing, racing heartbeat, sweating, trembling, and muscle tension. As chronic stress continues to exert its damaging effects, people often experience other physical signs of stress, including body aches, high blood pressure, digestive problems, or headaches.
Crisis fatigue can also lead to other mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance abuse. If you are experiencing crisis fatigue, seeking professional help to manage your symptoms and protect your mental well-being is essential.
What Causes it?
Several factors can contribute to crisis fatigue. These include:
Prolonged exposure to the stressor: When we are exposed to a stressful situation for a long time, it can take a toll on our psychological and physical well-being.
Lack of control: Feeling like we have no control over the situation can contribute to crisis fatigue. When we feel that nothing we do will make a difference, we are more likely to give up.
Lack of support: When we don't have a strong support system, it can be harder to cope with stress.
Multiple stressors: Dealing with numerous stressors simultaneously (such as being unemployed and dealing with racial discrimination) can increase our vulnerability to crisis fatigue.
Exposure to stressful information can also contribute to feelings of crisis fatigue. For example, being glued to news reports about every disaster, crisis, crime, or conflict can create continuous stress.
Tuning in may help people feel more informed about what is happening in the world, but too much exposure can make people feel overwhelmed to the point that they develop a sense of detachment.
Impact of Crisis Fatigue
The cumulative burden of chronic stress and complex life events has been dubbed allostatic load.
Exposure to prolonged stress activates body systems that trigger the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and catecholamines, including adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine.
The stress response prepares people to respond, cope, and adapt. And while we can often withstand the stress, it doesn't mean we don't face the consequences of bearing that relentless load.
Research suggests that high allostatic load is linked to worse health outcomes.1 Allostatic overload creates "wear and tear" on your body. This negatively affects many areas, including blood pressure, metabolic function, the inflammatory response, and the immune system.
How to Deal With Crisis Fatigue
Learning to Cope
If you are experiencing crisis fatigue, there are some things you can do to manage your symptoms and protect your mental health. If you've found yourself feeling stressed, apathetic, or detached because of crisis fatigue, consider implementing some of the following strategies:
Give Yourself a Break
As hard as it might seem, we can't overstate the benefit of taking breaks from the news and social media. You probably want to be an active and engaged participant in whatever events are taking place, so tuning out doesn't always feel like a viable option.
However, the decision to protect your mental health can allow you to support a movement better than when you were dealing with crisis fatigue. It can be helpful to stay informed, but it's also important to give yourself a break from constant exposure to stressful events.
Limit Exposure
Limit your exposure to news that is specifically about the crisis. You don't need to follow every development; just stay up-to-date enough to know what's going on without being overwhelmed. Set limits on how much time you spend watching the news or watching it on social media.
Consider subscribing to a daily summary through a newspaper website. This way, you can stay informed of current events without getting overwhelmed.
Care for Yourself
Make time for relaxation and self-care. Crisis fatigue can be exhausting, so taking care of yourself is important. Make sure to get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, and exercise regularly.
Stick to a Schedule
When you are dealing with a great deal of stress, maintaining a regular routine can help you feel better. It allows you to care for yourself more effectively as you are dealing with the stressor.
Research has found that having a routine can help people better manage feelings of stress and anxiety.2 In addition to promoting healthy habits, such routines can help you feel more productive and focused.
Reframe the Situation
Changing how you think about the situation can significantly impact how you feel about it. Cognitive reframing is a strategy often done in cognitive behavioral therapy under the direction of a therapist, but it is also something you can do on your own. When coping with a situation that contributes to stress and crisis fatigue, remember that it is temporary and won't last forever.
Take Action
Crisis fatigue can sometimes lead to feelings of paralysis and inaction. You might want to help with a problem, but you might not know where to start or how you can contribute. This sense of helplessness can cause stress that adds to feelings of fatigue.
Instead of exacerbating fatigue with endless doom scrolling, look for actions you can take to make a practical difference in your community or the world. You can't solve every problem yourself. Nor are you expected to.
Focus on doing what you can when you can. Reminding yourself that everyone has skills, talents, and knowledge they can contribute to the world can help combat feelings of hopelessness.
Talk to Someone
Talking to a friend or family member can help you feel better if you feel overwhelmed. You can also talk to a mental health professional if you need additional support.
Create Boundaries
Changes in the workplace have meant that many people are working remotely, which can contribute to an unbalanced work-home life.3 Creating clear boundaries between your work and your home life can help. Such boundaries might involve:
Setting up a separate workspace.
Avoiding work communications during off-hours.
Finding ways to mark a clear transition between your work and non-work time.
If you or a loved one is struggling with crisis fatigue, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
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If you or a loved one is struggling with crisis fatigue, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
References
https://www.verywellmind.com/coping-with-crisis-fatigue-5409500
