Understanding Secondary Trauma: The Emotional Toll of Caring for Others
Secondary trauma, also known as vicarious trauma, is a common experience among clinicians, caregivers, therapists, and other helping professionals. In this article, we’ll explore what secondary trauma is, how it can affect those who experience it, and what you can do to mitigate its effects.
Secondary trauma, also known as vicarious trauma, is a type of trauma that can affect people who are regularly exposed to the trauma experiences of others. This can include therapists, social workers, first responders, clinicians, journalists, and other caregivers who work with people who have experienced trauma. While these professionals provide crucial support to those in need, the emotional toll of hearing about and witnessing trauma can be significant and long-lasting.
What is Secondary Trauma?
Secondary trauma is a type of trauma that results from exposure to the trauma experiences of others. It occurs when a person witnesses or hears about the trauma experiences of others and begins to experience symptoms of trauma themselves. This can include symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, anxiety, depression, and avoidance behaviors.
Causes of Secondary Trauma
vicarious trauma can be caused by exposure to any type of trauma, including natural disasters, accidents, violence, and abuse. It can also be caused by exposure to chronic stressors, such as working in a high-pressure environment or dealing with difficult clients or patients. Additionally, professionals who have experienced trauma in their own lives may be more vulnerable to secondary trauma.
Symptoms of Vicarious Trauma
The symptoms of vicarious trauma can vary from person to person, but some common symptoms include:
- Emotional numbness or detachment
- Intrusive thoughts or memories
- Sleep disturbances
- Anxiety or depression
- Avoidance of certain topics or situations
- Hypervigilance or heightened sensitivity to potential trauma triggers
Effects of Secondary Trauma on Professionals
The effects of secondary trauma on professionals can be significant and long-lasting. It can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue, and a decreased ability to provide effective care to clients or patients. It can also lead to physical health problems, such as headaches, chronic pain, and gastrointestinal issues
Coping Strategies for Vicarious Trauma
There are several strategies that professionals can use to cope with secondary trauma. These include:
- Self-care: Engaging in activities that promote physical and emotional well-being, such as exercise, meditation, or therapy.
- Boundaries: Setting clear boundaries with clients or patients and taking time off when needed.
- Social support: Seeking support from colleagues, friends, or family members.
- Education: Learning about the effects of trauma and secondary trauma can help professionals understand their experiences and develop effective coping strategies.
- Supervision: Seeking supervision from a trusted colleague or supervisor can provide an opportunity to process difficult cases and receive support and guidance.
- Clinician Counseling – Counseling specifically geared toward those who are caregivers, therapists, first responders, clinicians and other helping professionals
Conclusion
In conclusion, secondary trauma is a common experience among caregivers, therapists, and other helping professionals. While the emotional toll of caring for others can be significant, there are strategies that can help professionals cope with the effects of vicarious trauma. By prioritizing self-care, setting boundaries, seeking social support, and engaging in education and supervision, professionals can continue to provide effective care to those in need while protecting their own well-being. If you are in need of support please contact me at dro@theteendoc.com or call me directly at 650-762-9069.
Dr. O “TheTeenDoc.” helps clinicians communicate better with their teen patients. She speaks, blogs www.TheTeenDoc.com, researches and consults on communicating with teens. She has written two e-books for parents and teens on communicating about the challenging subject of sexual health. You know, teens that bring chief complaints of belly pain, social crisis, emotional turmoil and obnoxious parents. Or, is it the parents with obnoxious teens? Sometimes she mixes that complaint up.
Dr. O speaks www.TheTeenDoc.com to and is consulted by clinicians who want advice managing difficult teen and teen-parent situations. These situations frustrate clinicians and slow down their clinics making them wonder if they’ll ever walk out the door for the day. Every day, in her own practice, Dr. O helps clinicians communicate better with teens and helping you is another level of reward. Her talks are fun and informative, and her delivery empowers clinicians to actually think teens are an awesome group to work with. Her energy about teens is contagious and has inspired her coaching clients to have less fear and more confidence with the teens in their panel. Her dedication to seeing you succeed with a group she is so passionate about is what makes Dr. O’s Lounge the place you want to be!
If you are a clinician that has teen’s in your practice, from pediatrics to internal medicine, the person with whom you need to connect is Dr. O “TheTeenDoc!” You can listen to a complimentary audio “The Art of Teen Medicine” and recommend her e-book “Are You Serious? It’s Just Sex!” to your patients. And while you’re there, become part of Dr.O’s Lounge.
Specialties: consulting, coaching, counseling, mental health, research, seminars, spanish, public speaker, teaching, communications between teens and adults
