Introduction
Trauma is an emotionally responsive, natural reaction to experience an inescapable, threatening, and terrifying event. A trauma response can also arise simply from being present at the site of the tragedy or hearing about it, or listening to someone recount it, and seeing its effects on that other person. This phenomenon is often referred to as secondary trauma — a widespread occurrence in certain professions.
In this article, we will discover more about this topic and learn about factors associated with STS.
What is Secondary traumatic stress?
STS, also called compassion fatigue, second-hand PTSD, secondary traumatic stress disorder, and other names, this type of trauma refers to distress or trauma indirectly experienced by another person who is hearing or seeing details of the aftereffects of a traumatic experience.
The term was coined by trauma specialists Beth Stamm, Charles Figley, and others in the early 1990s. To understand the concept better and explain the reasons for PTSD in the service providers.
STS involves stress one experiences as a result of witnessing the after-effects of a traumatic event another individual has experienced. It is common for professionals like nurses, human service providers, therapists, first responders, etc. as they have interaction with traumatized people.
Primary vs Secondary Trauma
Direct trauma is simply referred to as a traumatic event that is faced by the person who has experienced it. For instance, a paramedic may experience first-hand direct trauma after he’s called to an accident. On the other hand, secondary trauma is characterized by indirect exposure to trauma. Vicarious trauma permeates the careers of many people and, particularly, it is more often found in associations that expose the workers to a life-and-death experience.
Symptoms of Secondary traumatic stress
People with secondary traumatic stress usually experience symptoms similar to PTSD. Here are a few symptoms to be mentioned:
Stressful and painful event stories.
Remembering the flashback of a bad event
Mood swings
Avoiding events that have caused you a traumatic condition
Frequent emotional bust
Irritability
Irregular or lack of sleep
Being self-destructive and reckless behaviour
Less concentrating
Traumatic stress prediction can be done by observing changes in their sense of safety, trust issues, self-esteem, self-control, etc. He/ she is physically and mentally exhausted and has no empathy and kindness.
Causes of secondary traumatic stress
Common causes of secondary traumatic stress disorder include listening or showing more concern for other traumatic conditions. Such as:
Sexual assault
Child abuse
Physical attacks
humiliation
Natural disasters
Antisocial attack
Torture
Experience death situations
A violent death
Measures for preventing secondary trauma
- To educate oneself regarding secondary trauma, strategizing to prevent developing trauma from others’ stories in the mind while still fully empathetic and compassionate.
- Understand the signs: Be familiar with some symptoms so that you can recognize when they are starting to influence your feelings. The earlier you figure it out, the faster you can take action to abort.
- Run directly for help: Maybe you are, in some cases, bearing such secondary trauma effect. This will be an opportunity when you have somebody safe to open up to, like a trusted friend, supervisor, or therapist.
- Face the problem: you may feel like avoiding people with traumatic stories. But this will worsen the situation. So try to face the problem control your emotions and seek help.
- Ask for a few days off: Regular breaks are a must to fend off secondary trauma, more so for people in high-stress work. A weekend or day to go away will help you reset. Or, take an entire leave.
- Actively practice self-care: Self-care is something to prioritize in life. Some of it may seem simple enough on the surface, but it works. Sleep well, eat well, exercise, and set boundaries for mental health.
- Validate your feelings: You feel helpless or sentimental about secondary trauma, and this can occur to most incumbents in the helping profession, who generally minimize some personal inferiority.
What interventions reduce secondary traumatic stress
As we know the effects and suffering of secondary traumatic stress conditions, there are certain care you can take to avoid them. Some of the simple practices to follow are:
Self-care is the most important tip. Prioritize yourself, and avoid too much thinking of others. This helps you be calm and happy.
Eating well, being active, exercising, and sleeping well, reduce stress and bring mindfulness.
Do attend regular therapy sessions, to get peace and handle your emotions.
Following your habits, writing about your emotions, busting out your stress, and feeling light and happy can make you a normal person.
Diagnosis of secondary traumatic stress
This mental health condition of STS and PTSD can be treated with screening, proper conversation, etc. All these assessments are checked following the DSM-5 criteria.
According to the DSM-5, STS falls into the cluster of trauma and stressor-related disorders. STS is considered a criterion A-stressor in the DSM-5. It defines STS as indirect exposure to aversive details of trauma “that occur in both observational and participant roles.” The DSM-5 also suggests that indirect stress and trauma responses are often seen in professionals.
Conclusion
To conclude, STS refers to the emotional distress an individual feels with indirect exposure to a traumatic event. Gain knowledge about the causes and symptoms for early detection and treatment. Consult medical services in the severe case and prioritize the measures to avoid these mental disorders.
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