Chris Tuck
What is Vicarious Trauma?
Vicarious trauma, also known as secondary trauma or compassion fatigue, refers to the emotional, psychological, and physical impact experienced by individuals who are exposed to the traumatic experiences of others.
It commonly affects professionals who work closely with trauma survivors, such as healthcare providers, first responders, social workers, police officers, teachers, therapists, and journalists, to name but a few.
When individuals regularly listen to or witness accounts of trauma, they can internalise others' suffering and become emotionally affected by it. While they may not have directly experienced the trauma themselves, they can develop symptoms similar to those of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Emotional Distress
Feelings of sadness, anger, fear, or helplessness.
Intrusive thoughts
Repeated, distressing thoughts or images related to the trauma.
Avoidance
Attempts to avoid reminders or discussions about the traumatic events.
Hyperarousal
Increased anxiety, irritability, hypervigilance, or difficulty sleeping.
Physical symptoms
Headaches, fatigue, aches and pains or changes in appetite.
Changes in beliefs and worldview
Loss of faith in humanity, questioning personal safety, or pessimism about the world.
How can it affect a Team?
Vicarious trauma can impact an individual's well-being, job performance, and personal relationships. Employees experiencing vicarious trauma can have various effects on a business. Here are some ways it will impact the workplace and the organisation's profits.
Decreased Job Performance and Increased Absenteeism
Vicarious trauma can lead to emotional distress, exhaustion, and difficulty concentrating, which can result in decreased productivity, lower quality of work and more sick days.
Burnout and Turnover of Staff
The constant exposure to traumatic stories can contribute to burnout among employees, causing them to feel emotionally drained and detached from their work. Often, employees will seek employment elsewhere.
Decline in Morale and Team Dynamics will impact Client Satisfaction
Vicarious trauma can create a tense and emotionally charged atmosphere in the workplace, especially when some team members are absent and their workload has to be redistributed. The overall morale may decline, and team dynamics could be negatively affected as employees struggle with their own emotional well-being. Emotional distress and decreased concentration associated with vicarious trauma can increase the risk of errors or mistakes, particularly in fields where precision and attention to detail are critical.
Trauma-Informed organisations have a culture of understanding, care and compassion for both their staff and clients. Organisations need to prioritise safety, educate staff, involve survivors, respond sensitively, avoid re-traumatization, provide support, learn continuously, and collaborate with the community.
Do you need help and guidance to achieve this?
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Chris is a communicator; connector and change agent. As a motivational, professional inspirational, keynote speaker and media commentator Chris shares different aspects of her life to help deliver the client's message.
Chris has spoken and facilitated training in/for business, corporate, community and educational settings sharing her adverse childhood lived experiences and journey of recovery; to inspire and offer hope to children, young people and adults to empower them to overcome real-life challenges and lead a full and fulfilling life.
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