What Causes Vicarious Trauma?
Vicarious trauma occurs in response to repeated exposure totraumaticevents that others experience.
What Are the Symptoms of Vicarious Trauma?
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However, not all vicarious trauma looks like PTSD.
Some experience the following symptoms:
Interpersonally, they may withdraw from loved ones or become irritable.
In the workplace, vicarious trauma can manifest as overworking or avoiding professional responsibilities.
Those who have experienced vicarious trauma maychange jobsfrequently or experience conflict with colleagues.
Vicarious trauma can cause issues with motivation and increased mistakes.
What Is the Difference Between Vicarious Trauma and Secondary Trauma?
Secondary trauma and vicarious trauma can have similar symptoms, but the two experiences are defined differently.
Both occur as a result of exposure to another personstraumatic experience.
Secondary trauma symptoms tend to emerge quickly, whereas vicarious trauma develops over time.
Is Vicarious Trauma a Form of PTSD?
PTSD and vicarious trauma are a venn diagram.
As noted, the DSM-5-TR indicates that vicarious trauma can cause PTSD.
However, many with PTSD experience primary trauma and not secondary trauma.
Additionally, many who experience vicarious trauma symptoms do not meet the symptom criteria forPTSD.
What Is the Difference Between Burnout and Vicarious Trauma?
Anyone can experience burnout in response to exhaustion, fatigue, and overwork.
Some symptoms ofburnoutlook similar to vicarious trauma, including irritability, interpersonal conflict, and feelings of overwhelm.
People who experience burnout may leave jobs or exhibit decreased motivation.
What Are Some Examples of Vicarious Trauma?
Specifically,cognitive behavioral therapiesandeye movement desensitization and reprocessingcan successfully address symptoms of vicarious trauma.
If you experience vicarious trauma, you may benefit fromtherapy services to treat your traumasymptoms.
For some, vicarious trauma can become so intense that they are unable to return to that role.
You deserve support and care, and it is okay to seek help if you are experiencing vicarious trauma.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.Fact Sheet: Vicarious Trauma.
Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.).
Jenkins SR, Baird S.Secondary traumatic stress and vicarious trauma: A validational study.J Traum Stress.
2002;15(5):423-432.
Freudenberger HJ.Staff burn-out.Journal of Social Issues.
1974;30(1):159-165.
Molnar BE, Meeker SA, Manners K, et al.
Vicarious traumatization among child welfare and child protection professionals: A systematic review.Child Abuse & Neglect.
