SECONDARY

TRAUMA

S I GN

S , S Y P TO

MS ,

S UP PO

RT S

Ohio Primary Parent Advisory Council

Ohio Family Care Association1151 Bethel Rd, Suite 104BColumbus, Ohio 43220Phone: 614-401-OFCA (6322)Email: office@ofcaonline.org The Voice of Ohio’s Foster, Adoptive, Kinship & Respite Resource Familieswww.ofcaonline.org

COMPA

SSIO

N

FATI

GUE• A physical, emotional and

spiritual fatigue or exhaustion that takes over a person and causes decline in his/her ability to experience joy or to feel and care for others.

• Synonymous with secondary traumatic stress syndrome, vicarious trauma

  (Figley, 1995; Friedman, 2002)

COMPA

SSIO

N

FATI

GUE• The prolonged occurrence of

the natural behaviors and emotions that arise from knowing about a traumatizing event experienced by another.

• It’s this constant outputting of compassion and caring over time that can lead to these feelings of total exhaustion.

  (Figley, 1995; Friedman, 2002)

COMPA

SSIO

N

FATI

GUEA one-way street in which individuals are giving out a great deal of energy and compassion to others over a period of time, yet aren’t able to get enough personal support to reassure themselves that the world is a hopeful place.(Figley, 1995; Friedman, 2002)

BURNOUT VS. SECONDARY TRAUMA

A seven year, 5 state study of 600+ child welfare professionals concluded that over 50% had symptoms of secondary trauma and reported feeling trapped and hopeless about their work with clients, being in danger while working with clients, and avoiding thoughts and feelings about their clients.

Key indicators of higher secondary trauma symptom scores were younger professionals, those with less experience and those who had experienced trauma as a child.

Burnout:• Generally occurs over time• Often related to feelings that a

job’s perceived or actual demands are not supported by the employee’s sense of reward

• Possibly manifest symptoms that are fairly consistent and prevalent day to day (e.g. irritability, apathy, tardiness. lack of attention to detail)

• Can be alleviated by change in duties, change in career, increase in rewards, etc.

Secondary Trauma:• May occur over time or quickly• Often tied to exposure to

specific events or experiences that are viewed as horrific

• Possibly manifest symptoms that are inconsistent and extremes in responses associated with triggers that may or may not be anticipated

• Cannot be alleviated by a job/role change but can be helped in a variety of other ways

BURNOUT VS. SECONDARY TRAUMA

Secondary Traumatic Stress and the Child Welfare Professional; Pryce, Shackelford, & Pryce (2007)

POST-T

RAUMATIC

STRESS D

ISORDER

A. RECURRING INTRUSIVE RECOLLECTION OF THE TRAUMA:

Intrusive thoughts. dreams. flashbacks. 'dissociative' events. intense emotional and physiological distress when re-exposed to trauma associated stimuli

All rights reserved© 1999 Bruce D. Perry

POST-T

RAUMATIC

STRESS D

ISORDER

B. AVOIDANCE OF TRAUMA - ASSOCIATED STIMULI OR ‘NUMBING’:

Sense of detachment. restricted range of affect‘ dysphonia. loss of recently acquired developmental skill. sense of a foreshortened future

All rights reserved© 1999 Bruce D. Perry

POST-T

RAUMATIC

STRESS D

ISORDER

C. PERSISTENT PHYSIOLOGICAL HYPERAROUSAL

Sleep difficulties. hypervigilance, difficulty concentrating, increased startle response liability, impulsivity, irritability, physiological hyperreactivity

All rights reserved© 1999 Bruce D. Perry

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

The symptoms developed by persons suffering from PTSD or Secondary Trauma are nearly identical. The only difference is that, with Secondary Trauma, the traumatizing event experienced by one person becomes a traumatizing event for the second person.

Copyright 2002, childtraumaacademy.com

SYMPTO

MS O

F

SECONDARY

TRAUM

AExperts in secondary trauma advocate using an employer administered tool or self-assessment tool annually or more often to identify warning signs for secondary trauma.

There is great value in creating safety and trust around the exercise of acknowledging and discussing this important issue.

Please See Attached

Assessment Tools

Examples of Compassion Fatigue/Burnout SymptomsAreas of Personal and Professional Function

Cognitive Emotional Behavioral Spiritual PersonalRelationships

Physical/Somatic

WorkPerformance

Loweredconcentration

Powerlessness Impatient Questioning themeaning of life

Withdrawal Shock Low morale

Decreasedself-esteem

Anxiety Irritable Loss of purpose Decreasedinterest inintimacy or sex

Sweating Low motivation

Apathy Guilt Withdrawn Lack ofself-satisfaction

Mistrust Rapid heartbeat Avoiding tasks

Rigidity Anger/rage Moody Pervasivehopelessness

Isolation fromothers

Breathingdifficulties

Obsession aboutdetails

Disorientation Survivor guilt Regression Anger at God Over protectionas a parent

Aches andpains

Apathy

Perfectionism Shutdown Sleepdisturbance

Questioning ofprior religiousbeliefs

Projection ofanger or blame

Dizziness Negativity

Minimization Numbness Nightmares Loss of faith in ahigher power

Intolerance Increasednumber andintensity ofmedicalmaladies

Lack ofappreciation

Preoccupationwith trauma

Fear Appetitechanges

Greaterskepticism aboutreligion

Loneliness Other somaticcomplaints

Detachment

Thoughts ofself-harm orharm to others

Helplessness Hyper-vigilance Increasedinterpersonalconflicts

Impairedimmune system

Poor workcomm.

Sadness Elevated startleresponse

Staff conflicts

Depression Accidentproneness

Absenteeism

Emotional rollercoaster

Losing things Exhaustion

Depleted IrritabilityWithdrawal fromcolleagues

Overly sensitive

Figley, C., Figley, K.R., Crisis Y2K (2002): The Green Cross Project., Camden, Maine, copyright 1995-2006.

Please See Table

1.1

SYMPTOMS OF SECONDARY TRAUMA

• How does confidentiality impact caregiver and worker ability to seek

support?

• What role do labels and humor play in coping with the stress of this

work?

• Mom is a “frequent flyer.”

• Mom was regularly raped as a child and tends to choose abusive

partners.

• “Baby Daddy” is a “druggy.”

• The father was raised in and out of residential treatment with no strong

positive father figure.

THE BIG PICTURE

This is a beautiful picture everything is as it should be... Right?

MAKING A

PERSONAL

COMMITMENT

TO

ONESELF A

ND

ONE’S W

ORK WHY?

• Because I hurt

• Because I matter

• Because my clients

matter

• Because the work I do

matters

• Because the profession

matters

• Because I must

MAKING A

PERSONAL

COMMITMENT

TO

ONESELF A

ND

ONE’S W

ORKHOW?

• Not alone; get a buddy or a

group

• One day at a time; positive

outlets

• Do something in each realm

• One change at a time; be

realistic

• Increase mindfulness and

acceptance

• Make time/space for what

you love to do

• Don’t forget and don’t give

up

• Anticipate obstacles;

prevention plan

NEXT STE

PS

• In my personal life my next

step is:

• In my professional life my next

step is:

• In my organization my next

step is: