Understanding Vicarious Trauma

Vicarious Trauma accumulates over time,” explains Dr Gregory Warwick, Chartered Counselling Psychologist. “It’s a process of change that takes place as the result of repeated exposure to trauma, and something we see a lot in professions such as police, fire brigade, and of course social work.”

How can it happen?

“THE PANDEMIC HAS BROUGHT ABOUT A LOT OF DISCONNECT,” EXPLAINS DR GREGORY, OF QUEST PSYCHOLOGY IN MANCHESTER.

“In high pressure industries, being able to vent and debrief is an essential part of processing the things you’ve seen and heard, ensuring you can switch off from them at the end of the day. “With a job as serious as social work, we would also expect to see colleagues interacting using a healthy dose of black humour. These are things we just can’t do with our own families in lockdown. “This lack of communication can leave people vulnerable to the kind of emotional residue which can lead to Vicarious Trauma, Secondary Trauma, and Compassion Fatigue.”

Breaking down trauma

“There are three kinds of trauma disorder that are often confused. Vicarious Trauma comes as a result of empathetic engagement over a long period of time, and can lead to lingering feelings of anger, sadness, guilt, and hopelessness. “While Vicarious Trauma accumulates, Secondary Trauma can come on suddenly, usually causing a PTSD response. Even though the sufferer hasn’t personally experienced the trauma, the result can be vivid, with flashbacks and nightmares.

“FORGO YOUR BOUNDARIES, AND PUT YOURSELF AT RISK IN AN EFFORT TO HELP EVERYONE, AND YOU’LL END UP HELPING NOBODY.”

UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA

“With Compassion Fatigue, we see a long-term exposure to traumatic information that wears down the person’s empathy to the point that they no longer care or connect.”

What to look out for - in yourself and others

VICARIOUS TRAUMA

“Burnout is an early sign. You might find yourself developing new negative views of yourself, of others, and of the world in general.”

SECONDARY TRAUMA

“We would expect to be seeing some of the symptoms of PTSD - intrusive thoughts, withdrawal, a disconnect from reality, and vivid flashbacks, even though the person experiencing it wasn’t actually there.”

COMPASSION FATIGUE

“Disconnection, and a lack of reaction to something horrible or sad, or not having the reaction you might expect. A complete lack of empathy, not really caring about the job anymore, or the people involved.”

What can be done?

“Carve regular time out to talk with your team,” says Dr Gregory. “For managers, this could mean arranging a daily 15-minute virtual coffee break, where everyone is encouraged to share, or checking in one-on-one with someone who’s dealing with a particularly nasty case.

“IF A CASE IS TRIGGERING TO YOU PERSONALLY, FOR WHATEVER REASON, ALERT YOUR MANAGER AND SWAP THE CASE OUT.

“It’s also important to do all the usual things to look after yourself - exercising, eating well, taking part in hobbies, and engaging in mindfulness to bring down anxiety and help keep yourself grounded in the present, rather than losing yourself to the things you’ve heard and witnessed. “It’s also important to say that, with time, communication, and self-care, your feelings can be restored, and your thresholds put back to where they should be, but small consistent steps can stop you getting to that place. “Lunch breaks is one of those things I know too many people do without but, now more than ever, it’s important to take breaks in the day, and to ensure you’re clocking off in good time. “It’s like that old aeroplane analogy, about putting on your own mask before fitting anybody else’s. If you neglect your mental health, forgo your boundaries, and put yourself at risk in an effort to help everyone, and you’ll end up helping nobody.”

Vicarious Trauma accumulates over time,” explains Dr Gregory Warwick, Chartered Counselling Psychologist.

“It’s a process of change that takes place as the result of repeated exposure to trauma, and something we see a lot in professions such as police, fire brigade, and of course social work.”

How can it happen?

“THE PANDEMIC HAS BROUGHTABOUT A LOT OF DISCONNECT,”EXPLAINS DR GREGORY, OF QUESTPSYCHOLOGY IN MANCHESTER.

“In high pressure industries, being able to vent and debrief is an essential part of processing the things you’ve seen and heard, ensuring you can switch off from them at the end of the day.

“With a job as serious as social work, we would also expect to see

colleagues interacting using a healthy dose of black humour. These are things we just can’t do with our own families in lockdown.

“This lack of communication can leave people vulnerable to the kind of emotional residue which can lead to Vicarious Trauma, Secondary Trauma, and Compassion Fatigue.”

Breaking down trauma

“There are three kinds of trauma disorder that are often confused. Vicarious Trauma comes as a result of empathetic engagement over a long period of time, and can lead to lingering feelings of anger, sadness, guilt, and hopelessness.

“While Vicarious Trauma accumulates, Secondary Trauma can come on suddenly, usually causing a PTSD response. Even though the sufferer hasn’t personally experienced the trauma, the result can be vivid, with flashbacks and nightmares.

“FORGO YOUR BOUNDARIES, AND PUT YOURSELF AT RISK IN AN

EFFORT TO HELP EVERYONE, AND YOU’LL END UP HELPING NOBODY.”

“With Compassion Fatigue, we see a long-term exposure to traumatic information that wears down the person’s empathy to the point that they no longer care or connect.”

What to look out for - in yourself and others

VICARIOUS TRAUMA

“Burnout is an early sign. You might find yourself developing new negative views of yourself, of others, and of the world in general.”

SECONDARY TRAUMA

“We would expect to be seeing some of the symptoms of PTSD - intrusive thoughts, withdrawal, a disconnect from reality, and vivid flashbacks, even though the person experiencing it wasn’t actually there.”

COMPASSION FATIGUE

“Disconnection, and a lack of reaction to something horrible or sad, or not

having the reaction you might expect. A complete lack of empathy, not really caring about the job anymore, or the people involved.”

What can be done?

“Carve regular time out to talk with your team,” says Dr Gregory.

“For managers, this could mean arranging a daily 15-minute virtual coffee break, where everyone is encouraged to share, or checking in one-on-one with someone who’s dealing with a particularly nasty case.

“IF A CASE IS TRIGGERING TO YOUPERSONALLY, FOR WHATEVERREASON, ALERT YOUR MANAGERAND SWAP THE CASE OUT.

“It’s also important to do all the usual things to look after yourself - exercising, eating well, taking part in hobbies, and engaging in mindfulness to bring down anxiety and help keep

yourself grounded in the present, rather than losing yourself to the things you’ve heard and witnessed.

“It’s also important to say that, with time, communication, and self-care, your feelings can be restored, and your thresholds put back to where they should be, but small consistent steps can stop you getting to that place.

“Lunch breaks is one of those things I know too many people do without but, now more than ever, it’s important to take breaks in the day, and to ensure you’re clocking off in good time.

“It’s like that old aeroplane analogy, about putting on your own mask before fitting anybody else’s. If you neglect your mental health, forgo your boundaries, and put yourself at risk in an effort to help everyone, and you’ll end up helping nobody.”