Garda personnel, especially those on the frontline, routinely encounter critical incidents and may interact with people who have suffered violence, abuse, injuries and even fatalities. Compassion fatigue is sometimes described as "the cost of caring". It develops because you are empathetic to those you are helping. But it can be overwhelming to be exposed to traumatic events and if not addressed, you could begin to feel a numbness or find that you are unable to act decisively and cope with work.