Compassion Fatigue

I've got some of this going on. I've decided that's what caused me to think "That's IT?" upon reading that a girl got raped by her father in a book.

Here's the thing: ever since 9/11, I've become someone who gets teary very easily. Which is weird, since before then I rarely cried. But since 2001, anything - happy or sad - can bring me to tears. And I'm emotionally exhausted. If I see two old ladies run into each other at the supermarket who haven't seen each other in years and get all excited and hug, I get teary. If I watch a Lifetime movie it makes me cry. If I see two toddlers holding hands, I get verklempt. If I see someone pick something up for someone else, I get teary. It's just too much! I'm freaking exhausted!

I don't really know how to dial it all back. I'm reading less news. (Sorry if I'm dumber when we're talking.) I'm not watching the tearjerker videos people link on Facebook anymore. I'm not reading the emotional Op-ed articles. When one old lady gives another a second look that says "Do I know you? Judy?" I block her line of vision. Just kidding.

My hope is that all this will sort out my emotions a little bit. If you have any ideas, I'm interested for sure.