By Humairaa Mayet
Edited by Tasmiyah Randeree & Randy Tsubane
Secondary trauma is a psychological condition that arises from hearing about or witnessing the primary trauma of others. To EmpowHER spoke to Candice Britz, who unpacked the concept of secondary trauma and its treatment.
“Secondary trauma is defined as the indirect exposure to a traumatic event. Essentially this refers to experiencing emotional distress or duress when hearing about the first-hand trauma experiences that another individual has gone through. The symptoms may be similar to those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Individuals may find themselves re-experiencing personal trauma, or notice an increase in hyperarousal, hypervigilance, or irritable behaviour, as well as persistent avoidance of any stimuli associated with the traumatic event.”
Secondary trauma, also referred to as secondary traumatic stress, is a harrowing and terrifying mental condition and has its roots in a variety of incidents. Often, secondary trauma is developed after witnessing primary trauma or even hearing about traumatic events endured by others.
While post-traumatic stress disorder comes from experiencing a traumatic event firsthand, secondary trauma does not. The symptoms of these two conditions, however, are incredibly similar.
Candice Britz is a counseling psychologist who assists in treating many psychological disorders and mental illnesses. One of the ailments Britz has encountered is secondary trauma.
Britz explained that the role of the psychologist in treating secondary trauma is to facilitate a treatment plan aimed at treating the symptoms of the patient. Psychologists often utilise recognised psychological treatment modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT aims to reduce trauma symptoms by targeting emotional distress and cognitive distortions.
Certain circumstances can cause an individual to be more susceptible to secondary trauma. This includes personal exposure to a traumatic event or to individuals who are coping with their own reactions to trauma.
An array of events can lead to the development of secondary trauma.
Witnessing a horrific event, such as a hijacking or a robbery can result in the onlooker developing symptoms of secondary trauma. Often, witnesses of violent crimes are susceptible to secondary trauma. Children who witness their fathers abuse their mothers, or any other form of violence, are also at risk of developing secondary traumatic stress.
Hearing about a traumatic event can also pave the way for the development of secondary trauma. Sometimes, secondary traumatic stress can come about after hearing someone talk about surviving being raped; one may absorb the trauma of the survivor. This leads to one fearing the act itself and developing trauma around it.
Photo: National Education Association
At times, secondary trauma is unavoidable.
Counseling psychologists, particularly those who deal with issues of trauma, abuse, or rape may be subjected to secondary traumatic stress. This is due to the fact that simply listening to patients narrate and describe their experiences can be a traumatic occurrence in itself.
Prevention and intervention work hand-in-hand when it comes to combatting and resolving secondary trauma. Preventative strategies include controlling the media one consumes, the conversation one opens themselves up to, and the areas one visits. Interventionist strategies are somewhat more limited. Psychologists employ various methods to assist victims of secondary trauma. These, however, can take some time to come into effect and a trial of several methods may be necessary.
Individuals can guard against secondary trauma and even alleviate the symptoms by practicing self care through regular exercise, healthy diet, and getting a sufficient amount of sleep. It is also important to take time away from stress inducing situations. Psychological assistance is also important to consider, depending on the severity of symptoms as well as the impact the individual may be experiencing in their personal life.
An important, albeit unavoidable, source of secondary traumatic stress is the news. Our stream of consciousness is inextricably bound to our news feeds. We cannot go without scrolling through Instagram and Twitter as if they are morning newspapers. The radios in our cars, our televisions, and even conversations at dinner tables are pervaded by the news.
The unfortunate thing about the news we consume is that it is often negatively charged. “Too much news can be bad news,” said Britz.
Photo: First Moms Club
From reading stories about a child being killed in Palestine and hearing an audio clip about famines around the world, we are constantly surrounded by bad news. Whether it be the daily coronavirus statistics or a notification about the death of a celebrity, the news we consume psychologically affects us.
Absorbing one negative news story after the other can lead to the development of secondary traumatic stress.
Certain studies have found that the more news or distressing social media content we consume, the more likely we may be to develop symptoms of trauma. Repeated presentation of distressing and traumatic stimuli can cause cognitive distortions; meaning we may interpret newsworthy content as more prevalent than they really are. We may develop a negative bias wherein we only focus on doom and gloom stories. This is called doom rolling. When we perceive the daily news content as negative, this in turn affects our overall ability to feel hopeful and this can impact our overall well-being.
Ultimately, it is of the utmost importance to remember to unplug from time to time and prioritise your mental health over your ability to stay in the loop with current events.
More about Candice Britz:
She has a Master's degree in Counselling Psychology (cum laude) from the University of Johannesburg and is a Board certified autism technician.
Her hobbies and interests include journaling, creative content writing, engaging in community work, and gardening.
She has been providing psychological services and support for just under 3 years now.
Follow Candice BRITZ on Social Media:
Instagram: @candice_psychology
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