There Vicar traumatizationor Secondary traumatic stressit is a form of psychological stress that manifests itself when a person develops symptoms similar to those of a trauma despite not having been directly exposed to the traumatic event.
This phenomenon mainly concerns professionals who work closely with people who have undergone trauma, such as psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, nurses and humanitarian operators.
Vicar traumatization occurs through continuous listening to the traumatic stories of others, leading to a progressive accumulation of emotional stress.
For example, as regards the area of emergenciesthere are different levels in which the victims are classified. Those who are personally exposed to the traumatic event are considered first level victims. Then follow the families and health professionals, included in the third level.
This means that, although they are not direct spectators, health professionals can still “Absorb” the effects of trauma developing one in turn.
The conceptualization of vicar trauma
The concept of vicar traumatization was formally introduced by the clinical psychologists Laurie Anne Pearlman and Karen Saakvitne their book Trauma and the therapist: Countertransference and Vicarious Traumatization in Psychotherapy with incest survivors (1995).
However, the concepts behind this idea have older roots, connected to the idea of stress from compassion And burnoutphenomena already studied in previous years.
Figley (1995) formulated the concept of Fatigue compassion By providing a picture to understand how empathy and exposure continues to the suffering of others can have a significant psychological impact on help professionals. This concept has opened the path to subsequent studies on the importance of well -being of rescuers and health professionals.
One of the most significant theoretical contributions is that of McCann and Pearlman (1990) with theirs Constructivist Self Development Theory (CSDT). This theory explores how people build and organize their sense of self and the world through experiences, with particular attention to the role of traumatic experiences.
The vicar trauma according to the Constructivist Self Development Theory
According to CSDT, Vicar traumatization occurs when professionals are exposed to trauma tales and this exposure alters their perception of the worldof the self and others, negatively influencing their ability to work and their mental health.
At the basis of this model there are Four operating areas who experience a negative change or in any case dysfunctional:
- sense of self
- Management of emotions
- interpersonal relationships
- belief systems
In the area of cognition, i.e. of the perception of the world and of ourselvesthere are changes about the beliefs and values that impact the original vision towards others.
Emotions are experienced in a more intense and negative way. For example, fear, anger and despair are more similar to those expressed by patients.
The professional loses that “container” ability and can no longer rework the painful experience of the other to return it in a more functional and integrated way. The mirror function fails and the professional himself is swallowed in the vortex of negative emotions.
A third sphere that undergoes impairment is that of interpersonal relationships who sees the professional increasingly isolated and alienated in his world.
Finally, the last area touched is that of spirituality where there may be real crises that lead to a change of spiritual or religious beliefs.
What does the vicar trauma consist of?
The vicar trauma does not derive from the direct experience of a traumatic event, but from empathy towards traumatized people and the continuous confrontation with their painful stories.
Mental health professionals, for the role they play, are particularly subject to this condition, since they can come into daily contact with the highly dramatic experiences of their patients.
This continuous absorption of intense emotions And painful It can affect their psychological health, leading to an experience similar to the trauma experienced by patients and thus generating traumatization in the therapist himself.
It is true that the nature, the professional path, the continuous updating and comparison with colleagues, are positive prognostic factors to face the vicar trauma.
Differences between vicar traumatization and other types of stress
Firstly, it is necessary to clarify some terms that are used indifferently but which, in reality, are not properly synonymous.
Vicar traumatization occurs with Post-traumatic stress symptoms (flashback, avoidance, anxiety) in response to indirect exposure to the trauma of others.
There Fatigue compassion Instead, it concerns the emotional exhaustion due to the act of constantly taking care of people in situations of suffering. It is less linked to the specificity of the trauma and more prolonged emotional involvement. Postpooling one’s person, their spaces and interests for the good of others can generate, in the long run, a exhaustion of one’s resources.
The compassion and empathy demonstrated by health professionals, emergency services and social services can be expensive from a psychological, mental and economic point of view and also have a negative impact on their families and on the organizations for which they work.
Another aspect of vicar trauma is the burnout of the psychologist, that is, a physical, emotional and mental exhaustion caused by one chronic working stressoften due to excessive workloads, lack of resources or organizational support.
The Burnout is linked to the duration of the exposure to the stress to which the professional is subject to bad management and therefore to work method, as well as to deterioration and difficulties related to relationships in the workplace.
The repercussions, however, also damage other areas of the function of the person who, impotent Faced with the excessive (or perceived such) requests of the environment, it will no longer find a limit and will bring its own malaise also in the private sphere.
Symptoms of vicar trauma and signs to be recognized
There symptomatology of the vicar trauma It is characterized by exhaustion, anger and irritability, negative coping behaviors, including alcohol and drug abuse, reduced ability to experience sympathy and empathy, a decreased sense of satisfaction or pleasure in work, increased absenteeism and a compromised ability to make decisions and take care of patients.
The negative effects of the treatment are amplified by the severity of the traumatic material to which the caregiver is exposed, such as the direct contact with the victims.
As for emotions, episodes of anxiety, depression and deflected mood can be verified accompanied by a sense of helplessness. When these emotions reach an unsustainable dimension, they can turn into dysfunctional behavior sometimes dangerous.
From a point of view cognitivealso for the vicar trauma, flashbacks and intrusive thoughts are included as well as difficulty concentration and ability to make decisions.
As for the behavioreverything that can remember the trauma is avoided or hyper controlled, favoring an emotional detachment that acts as an emotional armor.
The body accuses the blow with symptoms such as insomnia, fatigue, headache or muscle pain. Apparently disconnected from each other, initially does not understand its nature, until a rather high threshold level is reached that blocks the person, forcing it to resort to drugs and therapies.
Level relational The difficulty emerges in maintaining personal relationships. Closing and isolation tend to prevent normal social functioning.
Because mental health professionals are vulnerable
Mental health professionals are vulnerable At this condition, because the empathic involvement and daily comparison with intense suffering can run out their resources. Long shifts and night hours with filming of work after a few hours, do not allow adequate management of stress and emotional load.
Furthermore, the responsibility of assist people in serious difficulty can make professionals feel overwhelmed or impotent in the face of the gravity of the situations they face.
For prevent vicar traumatizationit is essential that mental health professionals adopt self -clock practicesreceiving support through regular supervision and taking breaks necessary to recharge emotionally.
The structures do not always provide adequate psychological support or help programs for health professionals, especially in emergency conditions and conflict.
The value of self -care
Vicar trauma is recognized as a phenomenon that can have serious consequences on the well -being of those who work with people who have undergone trauma and require prevention and support strategies to guarantee the mental health of professionals.
Working on prevention remains of fundamental importance. Everything that can provide support and support for operators is an indication of a good prognosis for the possible resolution of the vicar trauma and symptomatic correlates.
Company wellness programs, psychoeducation, training in emergency psychology and similar models, can be a valid help for health professionals, rescuers and all those figures involved in the help professions. Learning to take breaks on therapy, dedicating yourself to fun activities, understanding your needs and devoting themselves to self -care, can be some goals for the professional who dedicates a lot of time to the well -being of his patients.
