Secondary traumatic stress is the emotional duress that results when an indi- vidual hears about the firsthand trauma experiences of another. Its symptoms. mimic those of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Common causes of secondary traumatic stress disorder include exposure to details of other traumatic events experienced by others, such as: Sexual assault. Physical assault. Child abuse or neglect.
Signs of STS can include: fatigue or illness, cynicism, irritability, reduced productivity, feelings of hopelessness, anger, despair, sadness, feelings of re-experiencing of the event, nightmares, anxiety, avoidance of people or activities, or persistent anger and sadness(Siegfried, 2008 & Conrad).
The difference between STS and PTSD is that STS occurs after indirect exposure to threatening events (e.g., hearing patients' stories, delivering bad news to patients, observing intense emotions in others), while PTSD occurs due to a perceived direct threat to an individual.
While STS is the direct result of hearing emotionally shocking material from clients, burnout can result from work with any client group (Iliffe & Steed, 2000). Although burnout and STS are defined differently, there are common impacts, symptoms, and themes between these two states.
PTS symptoms are common after deployment and may improve or resolve within a month. PTSD symptoms are more severe, persistent, can interfere with daily functioning, and can last for more than a month. Most people with PTS do not develop PTSD.
Introduction. Medical personnel is an occupational group that is especially prone to secondary traumatic stress.
Anxiety Secondary to PTSD
People with any form of these disorders may feel restless or jumpy, have difficulty concentrating, tremble or twitch, feel nauseous or dizzy, experience a rapid heartbeat, have shortness of breath, have difficulty sleeping, or experience excessive worrying.
The short answer is no. While depression is a chronic mood disorder that causes intense feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and other mental and physical symptoms, PTSD is a stressor-related disorder that is brought on following a traumatic event.
Vicarious traumatization is a negative reaction to trauma exposure and includes a range of psychosocial symptoms. (In the VTT, the term “vicarious traumatization” is used broadly to include other related terms such as secondary traumatic stress (STS), compassion fatigue (CF), and critical incident stress (CIS).
People with PTSD have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that last long after the traumatic event has ended. They may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares; they may feel sadness, fear or anger; and they may feel detached or estranged from other people.
Intrusive memories
Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event. Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks) Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event. Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the traumatic event.
Secondary exposure to trauma has also been associated with the burnout dimensions of emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and reduced levels of personal accomplishment (e.g., Craig & Sprang, 2010).
While some anxiety symptoms and PTSD symptoms clearly overlap, the difference is that with anxiety, the intrusive thoughts, persistent worry, and other difficulties are generally not tied to a specific or past event, whereas in PTSD, they are.
Some of the more common secondary conditions include depression, hypertension, chronic pain, skin sores, fractures, contractures, urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, unwanted weight gain, excessive fatigue, and social isolation (Simeonsson & McDevitt, 1999).
The answer is yes. It is possible for the VA to grant service connection for PTSD with depression secondary to PTSD. For that to happen, a veteran must have a diagnosis of both depression and PTSD.
Types of events that can lead to PTSD include: serious accidents. physical or sexual assault. abuse, including childhood or domestic abuse.
When a child is injured or traumatized in some way, it's not unusual for the parents to also experience some emotional impact from the trauma. This is called secondary traumatic stress, or STS, and it's a form of persistent emotional distress that comes from dealing with your child's trauma firsthand.
Tragedy and trauma can happen to anyone. According to the National Center for PTSD, people are more likely to suffer from PTSD if they: Had an earlier life-threatening event or trauma, such as being abused as a child.
The normal healing and recovery process involves the body coming down out of heightened arousal. The internal alarms can turn off, the high levels of energy subside, and the body can re-set itself to a normal state of balance and equilibrium. Typically, this should occur within approximately one month of the event.
There is no cure for PTSD, but some people will see a complete resolution of symptoms with proper treatment. Even those who do not, generally see significant improvements and a much better quality of life.
Treatment of Secondary Trauma
In many cases of STS, the symptoms will resolve on their own over the course of a few weeks. If your symptoms persist beyond 4 weeks, and/or are interfering with your ability to function in one or more areas of your life, consult with your physician and/or a professional counselor.