The day-by-day world of caregiving is difficult, stressful, exhausting, depleting - and at the same time one of the greatest opportunities for a meaningful, fulfilling life of compassionate giving. How can empathic and sensitive caregivers prevent compassion fatigue and burnout? Effective self-care must include a deeper understanding of appropriate boundaries in caregiving, as well as how to manage and release painful emotions and not "tough it out". Unresolved personal emotional triggers and distress can result in caregiver depression, discouragement, physical ailments and disease.