Energy loss

​Ancient Greece 

Ancient Greece as a civilisation can be dated back to at least 3000 years ago. Psyche and Pneuma: In Greek philosophy and medicine, the Psyche (soul) and Pneuma (breath or vital spirit) were believed to influence health and well-being. The balance of these elements was seen as vital for maintaining health and harmony. Asclepius and Healing: The healing practices associated with Asclepius, the god of medicine, involved holistic approaches to restoring balance in the body and mind, reflecting early understandings of energy balance. Ancient Greek medical texts discuss the impact of emotional and psychological stress on health, though not in the modern terms of compassion fatigue. The concept of "pathos" (suffering or experience) was recognized as affecting both physical and mental health. 

​

Ancient Italy (Rome) 

Roman thought, influenced by earlier Greek ideas, included concepts of vital forces and spiritus (spirit or breath), which were believed to be essential for life and health. Roman medical practices, which integrated Greek influences, involved various rituals, baths, and therapies aimed at restoring the body’s natural balance and energies. Roman culture recognized the stress and emotional impact of demanding roles, particularly in public life and governance. While not termed compassion fatigue, there were practices and philosophies aimed at managing personal stress and maintaining mental health. 

​

Ancient Indian Traditions  

The concept of prana, or vital life force energy, and the chakra system in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, describe how emotional and physical well-being is interconnected with the flow of energy through the body's energy centers or chakras. Trauma and stress can disrupt this flow, leading to imbalances that manifest as physical and emotional symptoms. 

 

Traditional Chinese Medicine  

The concept of qi (or chi) reflects a similar understanding of energy flow within the body. In this tradition, emotional disturbances and stressors are believed to block or disrupt qi, which can contribute to physical ailments and mental health issues. 

​

Indigenous Cultures 

Many indigenous cultures hold that the human spirit and energy fields are deeply affected by interactions with the trauma of others. These traditions often emphasize the importance of ritual, connection to nature, and communal support in maintaining energetic balance.  

• Evidence suggests that the Australian first nations people have been around for 65,000 years. They described dreamtime/dreaming, a spiritual and ancestral dimension that connects all aspects of life. The energy of the land and ancestral spirits plays a vital role in healing practices and maintaining emotional and spiritual well-being. 

​​

• The earliest evidence of human presence in North America dates back to around 15,000 to 20,000 years ago. Archaeological findings suggest that these early peoples migrated from Asia via the Bering Land Bridge, settling throughout North and South America. Many American Indian traditions use the Medicine Wheel as a symbol of balance and holistic healing. It represents the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of life. Rituals and ceremonies often focus on restoring balance and harmony within this framework, addressing trauma by aligning these elements and fostering connection with the natural world. Sacred Plants and Rituals: Indigenous tribes may use sacred plants like tobacco, peyote, or sage in ceremonies to cleanse and heal spiritual and emotional wounds. These rituals are designed to restore energy balance and promote mental and emotional resilience. 

​

• Canadian First Nations people similarly to their north American brothers and sisters have evidence that they existed for 15,000 to 20,000 years and had smudging. Smudging is a practice involving the burning of sacred herbs like sweetgrass, sage, or cedar to cleanse spaces and individuals of negative energies and promote healing. This ritual is believed to purify the spirit and restore balance. Sweat Lodge Ceremonies: Sweat lodge ceremonies are used for purification and spiritual renewal. These ceremonies are designed to cleanse the body, mind, and spirit, addressing both individual and collective trauma within a supportive community context. 

​

• Ancient Egypt has evidence that it existed over 5000 years ago. Ancient Egyptians believed in Ka and Ba. They were vital life forces,  Ka was considered a person’s vital essence or life force, while the Ba was associated with the soul or personality. The balance and harmony of these energies were crucial for health and spiritual well-being. Ancient Egyptians practiced various forms of healing that were thought to align and balance these energies. Techniques included rituals, herbal remedies, and the use of sacred symbols. While not explicitly termed as such, the ancient Egyptians recognized the impact of emotional and spiritual disturbances. Priests and healers were often involved in rituals to restore balance and address disturbances in one's life force, which could be akin to addressing symptoms of compassion fatigue. 

 

In these ancient cultures, maintaining energetic balance and addressing trauma involves a deep connection to nature, community support, and spiritual practices. These traditions recognize that trauma can disrupt not just individual well-being but also the collective harmony of the community, and thus, healing practices often involve both personal and communal elements. 

​

In summary, ancient civilizations like Egypt, Greece, Rome and the indigenous people of this world had concepts related to vital energies and balance that parallel modern understandings of electromagnetic fields and disturbances. They also had practices and beliefs addressing the emotional and spiritual impact of their roles, which can be seen as early reflections of what we now understand as compassion fatigue. Sapolsky, R. M. (2004) discusses how chronic stress affects the body’s energy systems, particularly the HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis), which is crucial for stress responses and can be disrupted by prolonged exposure to trauma. Prolonged exposure to traumatic content can lead to disruptions in these energy systems, resulting in compassion fatigue—a state of emotional burnout where one’s capacity for empathy is diminished. This disruption can cause symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts. Research by Bride, B. E. (2007) explored how social workers, who often deal with traumatic content, can experience secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue, leading to symptoms like anxiety and depression. Hence, ensuring that we are managing the symptoms of vicarious trauma is crucial to our overall health and wellbeing. McEwen, B. S. (2007) outlines how chronic stress, which can arise from exposure to traumatic content, impacts the brain and the body’s stress-response systems, leading to various psychological and physiological disruptions. 

​

What we learnt? Self care is vital to maintaining one's health and wellbeing.