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Not all PTSD cases come from direct trauma. Survivors, bystanders, and first responders often develop trauma merely from being on-site when a crisis happens.
How It Happens
PTSD happens when extreme trauma changes the neural circuits and brain structure. Patients who are emotionally porous or empathetic may feel others’ pain intensely enough to change their brains on a physiological level. This is even more likely to happen if exposure happens more than once. First responders, doctors, or nurses are more likely to experience vicarious trauma.
What Are the Symptoms?
Vicarious trauma presents in the same way ordinary trauma does. The patient might develop a sense of fear, guilt, or shame. They might deal with those feelings by withdrawing from their social circle or abusing substances. Mental health training courses Newport such as tidaltraining.co.uk/mental-health-training-courses/newport/ can teach you how to support people with acquired brain injuries, PTSD, and substance abuse issues. If you’re an employer, carer, or healthcare leader, an accreditation will help you manage your patients and staff responsibly.
How Do You Treat It?
The first step to treating vicarious trauma is to debrief the patient as soon as possible so they can process their experience in a healthy way. Grounding techniques and mindfulness practice are powerful healing tools. A supportive environment can speed up healing and reduce suffering.
Vicarious trauma can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue, and depression, but a sense of connection can make a difference. Compassion’s effects are, nonetheless, limited, so it’s important to equip affected people with tools to manage their day-to-day symptoms.
