"What I think you need is a touchstone. A sort of anchor, to keep you from drifting off into the boundless sea of your empathy. Or a paddle, if you'd like. Something to guide you through things.
Perhaps if we met on a weekly basis, if you let these sessions become an outlet for you. Somewhere that you could talk about what you read and what you see, so you don't internalize it quite so much. It may help lessen the night terrors somewhat."