MANY mental health workers (i.e. counselors, social workers, psychologists) and other individuals like houseparents and child care workers experience vicarious trauma.
Vicarious trauma is the process of change that happens when a service provider or other persons care about other people who have been hurt and feel committed or responsible to help them. Over time, this process can lead to changes to an individual’s psychological, physical and spiritual well-being. (Pearlman and McKay, 2008)
This term is sometimes known as “compassion fatigue.” This describes the phenomenon generally associated with the “cost of caring” for others.
These individuals have been exposed to the trauma experiences of the people they are working with that they witness the fear, the pain and the terror that the survivors experience.
Here are the signs and symptoms to watch for if one is already experiencing vicarious trauma:
u2022 feeling helpless and hopeless
• a sense that you can’t do enough
• hyper vigilance – high alert
• reduced creativity
• inability to accept complexity
• minimizing
• chronic exhaustion/physical ailments
• inability to listen/purposeful avoidance
• dissociative moments
• sense of persecution
• guilt
• fear
• anger and cynicism
• numbing/inability to empathize
• addictions
• grandiosity/an inflated sense of importance related to one’s work
Self-care is highly recommended to these workers and to everyone else. Self care refers to an understanding of one’s own personal response to stress as well as what best helps a person recover from stressful events.
Managing stress is all about taking charge: taking charge of one’s thoughts, one’s emotions, one’s schedule, one’s environment, and the way one deals with problems. The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun – plus the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on.
Resiliency refers to a person’s ability to cope with stress and adversity It’s the ability to “bounce back,” to “move on” and grow from difficult circumstances, even traumatic events.
People who are resilient see themselves as: safe, capable and lovable.
However, if one person has done all the possible positive coping strategies and is still having difficulties, he or she is encouraged to consult with a psychologist or a psychiatrist.