Title: What is Vicarious Trauma? - Jefferson Center - Mental Health and Substance Use Services
Headings: What is Vicarious Trauma?
What is Vicarious Trauma?
What is Trauma?
What is Vicarious Trauma?
Who Experiences Vicarious Trauma?
Common Reactions to Vicarious Trauma:
How to Address Vicarious Trauma:

Content: Who Experiences Vicarious Trauma? If you are regularly hearing about another person’s trauma, then you are at risk of developing vicarious trauma symptoms. This can include medical providers, law enforcement, mental health staff, social workers, and those working in the courts. How you experience vicarious trauma depends on many factors including personality, personal experience, life stressors, social support, and spiritual resources. Common Reactions to Vicarious Trauma: • PHYSICAL: Feeling on edge, difficulty sleeping, feeling tired, getting sick
• EMOTIONAL: Feeling sad or anxious, angry, irritable, lonely or unsupported, unsafe
• COGNITIVE: Difficulty concentrating or making decisions, memory problems, disturbing imagery, nightmares, “zoning out”
• BEHAVIORAL: Social withdrawal, drinking or smoking more, changes in eating patterns, overprotectiveness
• RELATIONAL: