Topic 2 Symptoms of Vicarious Trauma

Feeling traumatised or becoming traumatised from listening to people’s traumatic experiences is completely normal. One may think about what they heard for a few days and feel concerned or saddened. However, when this rumination continues for more than a few days and these feelings constantly intrude on your thoughts, daily living or interfering with work, family and relationships, this combination is VT and steps need to be taken.

The symptoms of VT are almost identical to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and the primary difference is that there are no flashbacks or triggers because the trauma was not experienced.

Physical and emotional symptoms include, but are not limited to:

Withdrawal and isolation; pervasive hopelessness and apathy; sleep disruption and nightmares; depression and anxiety; appetite changes; hyper-vigilance and/or minimization; anger; mood swings; poor self-care and hygiene;

This further impacts on daily living at home and at work, such as increased absenteeism; inability to concentrate or complete tasks from the simple to complex; increased mistakes or missed deadlines; conflict; and disengaging from colleagues.

Changing focus within your current job or career change is both a symptom and a solution.