Title: Compassion Fatigue, Vicarious Trauma and Burnout - what's the difference? - Char Richard
Headings: Compassion Fatigue, Vicarious Trauma and Burnout – what’s the difference?
Compassion Fatigue, Vicarious Trauma and Burnout – what’s the difference?
Content: This can include intrusive imagery (images of trauma popping into your head) dreaming about the traumatic situation or avoiding certain activities and so on. Ongoing vicarious trauma can result in a shift in the helper’s world view and sense of meaning, for example, someone who may regularly feel safe can begin to doubt their safety if they work with victims of crime and hear numerous stories of crimes and trauma. If a helper has a previous history of trauma (and many have as more than 70% of the population has experienced one or more event significant enough to be traumatic) that is unresolved, then you are more likely to experience VT. Burnout: Burnout is the extreme end of Compassion Fatigue. Both compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma can lead to burnout. It means that symptoms have been happening on a regular basis for a long time and longer term support will likely be necessary to recover. In extreme cases, burnout can lead to serious physical and mental illness. How does knowing the difference help you? Can you relate to the different experiences?