Empathy is the ability to recognize, understand, and share the thoughts and feelings of another person. It is something that can make you vulnerable to becoming fatigued. 

"Compassion fatigue can also arise from direct exposure to traumatic events, which is common among first responders, or secondary exposure, most common among child protective caseworkers, educators or social workers. The anxiety and preoccupation with the suffering of those being helped can be traumatizing for the helper.”

-Child Care Exchange