Signs and Symptoms of Vicarious Trauma

Vicarious trauma: What happens to you?

The challenges that come from opening up your heart and mind to other people’s suffering can trigger personal growth and a greater appreciation for your blessings. However, these challenges can also be so demanding that they cause some reactions similar to those experienced by people who have undergone traumatic events. Sometimes, both are true.

This section outlines some of the signs and symptoms of vicarious trauma. In broad terms, some common difficulties associated with vicarious trauma include:

• Difficulty managing your emotions;
• Difficulty accepting or feeling okay about yourself;
• Difficulty making good decisions;
• Problems managing the boundaries between yourself and others (e.g., taking on too much responsibility, having difficulty leaving work at the end of the day, trying to step in and control other’s lives);
• Problems in relationships;
• Physical problems such as aches & pains, illnesses, accidents;
• Difficulty feeling connected to what’s going on around and within you; and
• Loss of meaning and hope.

Probably no one will experience difficulties in all of these areas. You saw in the last section that there are individual differences in what contributes to your vicarious trauma, and there are also individual differences in how you experience and express VT. One person may primarily experience VT physically — through illness, pains, trouble sleeping, etc. Another may primarily show VT in relationships – by withdrawing from others or being irritable. For others, VT may express itself in mood – through depression or anxiety. The way we experience stress and distress is also influenced by our cultures.

Vicarious trauma results from psychological and spiritual disruptions that affect the way we see ourselves, the world, and what matters most to us. This leads to physical, psychological, spiritual, relational, and behavioral signs of VT.

The following lists some common signs of vicarious trauma in different areas. Remember that these difficulties can often result from different problems as well – they are not always due to vicarious trauma. For example, a person might have trouble sleeping because of depression, or physical pain, or many other reasons.

CHANGES IN WORLDVIEW OR FRAME OF REFERENCE

• Changes in spirituality (e.g., changes in beliefs regarding meaning, purpose, causality, connection, hope, and faith). This often takes the form of questioning prior beliefs and the meaning and purpose in life. In turn, this can be connected to a sense of loss of purpose, hopelessness, and cynicism.
• Changes in identity (e.g., changes in the way you practice or think about important identities as a professional, friend, or family member). You could, for example, find that most of your time and energy is spent in your professional role because you feel disconnected from or uncomfortable in your other roles or identities.
• Changes in beliefs related to major psychological needs (e.g., beliefs regarding safety, control, trust, esteem, and intimacy). For example, changes in how vulnerable you believe you, and others that you care about, are to harm. In turn, these beliefs can influence your thoughts (e.g., worrying about safety issues, mistrust of strangers) and actions (e.g., being more protective of your children).

PHYSICAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL SIGNS

• Hyperarousal symptoms (e.g., nightmares, difficulty concentrating, being easily startled, sleep difficulties)
• Repeated thoughts or images regarding traumatic events, especially when you are trying not to think about it
• Feeling numb
• Feeling unable to tolerate strong emotions
• Increased sensitivity to violence
• Cynicism
• Generalized despair and hopelessness, and loss of idealism
• Guilt regarding your own survival and/or pleasure
• Anger
• Digust
• Fear

BEHAVIOR & RELATIONSHIP SIGNS

• Difficulty setting boundaries and separating work from personal life
• Feeling like you never have time or energy for yourself
• Feeling disconnected from loved ones, even when communicating with them
• Increased conflict in relationships
• General social withdrawal
• Experiencing the “silencing response” – finding yourself unable to pay attention to other’s distressing stories because they seem overwhelming and incomprehensible; and directing people to talk about less distressing material
• Decreased interest in activities that used to bring pleasure, enjoyment, or relaxation
• Irritable, intolerant, agitated, impatient, needy, and/or moody
• Increased dependencies or addictions involving nicotine, alcohol, food, sex, shopping , internet, and/or other substances
• Sexual difficulties
• Impulsivity