Have you ever witnessed a traumatic event happening to someone else; or been affected by hearing about it in detail?
We can be impacted by trauma, even though we are not the victim of the trauma; if we are either a witness, or if we sympathise, empathise and offer support and compassion to the victim.
If we witness a traumatic event, the 'mirror neurons' in our brains are activated and we feel, to a certain extent, as if the event had happened to us!
Vicarious trauma is particularly seen in counsellors who repeatedly work with victims of assault, rape, abuse and torture. It is also an occupational hazard for the emergency services - fire-fighters, ambulance and paramedics, hospital staff, police officers, - and for the armed forces too.
Workers in these professions have to learn to 'emotionally numb' themselves to what they experience - in order for them to be able to carry out their work. They have to 'emotionally detach' and become more cognitive and focussed in dealing with the situation. It can then be hard for such professionals to 'switch back on' emotionally with their family and friends when back in a safe environment. Some have said that it takes a few days for them to process their 'vicarious trauma' enough to be emotionally available to relate with loved ones fully; by which time they are usually 'back in the firing line' at work. Some also say that they find an escape in alcohol and other 'mood-altering' substances and behaviours, as a way of avoiding their real and overwhelming emotions.
There have been too many cases reported of ex-servicemen suffering with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder who are not given the help and treatment they need to rebalance their brain after the horrors of war.
Seeing horrific events can over-stimulate the emotional part of our brain and affect our daily lives considerably; as can hearing about such events from the victim, who may be your partner or a family member. Many such traumatised people find it very difficult to fit back into society and they can become homeless and have drink and alcohol problems as they try to 'self- medicate' and find a way to avoid the effects of the over-stimulation of their brains. Workers in the voluntary sectors are often not properly trained or qualified to effectively work with these people who 'slip through the net' of society, and can themselves suffer from vicarious trauma as they try their best to help.
Traumatised people primarily need to acknowledge that they did survive (although survivor guilt can be an added difficulty for them). They then need to restore a sense of 'safety' in their lives - which is very hard to do if they are homeless, or a refugee. When they feel safe enough, they can then slowly develop a sense of security and comfort. From that platform they can build a feeling of freedom from the grip of their earlier trauma; and freedom to make choices that will shape their future.
Our news reports always have a new tragedy to inform us about. Graphic images of a murdered dictator have been splattered over the front pages of national newspapers. Television news stories of traumatic, tragic and brutal events are often repeated every half hour or more - such as the September 11th 2001 images, and the many subsequent bombings.
How are we psychologically affected by exposure to this 'bad news'?
The effects are not as great as if we had experienced the trauma personally, but the cumulative effects of second-hand exposure, or seeing several horrific sights in our day to day lives, also has a huge impact upon our ability to 'process' such material, and to regain our own emotional equilibrium.
Emergency service workers and counsellors- particularly those working in specialist refugee centres, or with victims of violent assault - should all have access their own counselling to enable them to 'offload' the psychological weight of their work and ensure they don't 'burn-out'.
However, just talking about an event might not be effective enough, as it is our body that is impacted by trauma in the first instance, and then we think about what happened, and then we find the words for the story we will tell about it.
With vicarious trauma we will not have had our body impacted by the event with anything like the same intensity as the actual victim, but we will have thoughts, images, emotions and body sensations linked to what we hear or see.
It can be very difficult to be in a relationship with someone who has been directly traumatised - whether that be unresolved childhood trauma or a more recent accident or assault. The person will 'change', in both their perceptions and behaviours. You may feel that you don't 'know' them any longer. You may feel that being around them and their pain is too overwhelming and only a sense of love or duty holds you there. You may want to be their support, but may not be able to cope with that burden alone. Loss of a child in whatever circumstances has all too often resulted in a relationship breakdown, as grief blocks us from processing trauma and the strain takes it's toll upon the relationship bond.
Having an awareness of this can be a help as we realise just how big a challenge we face. We can then search for, and hopefully find, the strength and courage to be present in the face of trauma, despite our fear that it will engulf us.
By Maxine Harley Msc Integrative Psychotherapy and creator of 'The Ripple Effect' Process and Quantum Psyche Process see http://www.qpp.uk.com/
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