![]() Human connection is a necessary component of healing from trauma. Stay connected with people who make you feel loved. ![]() ![]() Increase the positive things that you do that bring joy to your life. Use mindfulness or prayer to stay grounded. (Don’t worry about missing groundbreaking news. Take a 24-hour break from the news and social media. Here are some things you can do to mitigate the effects of vicarious trauma: The constant media coverage of COVID-19, for example, can cause increased anxiety around health-related issues the many reports of police brutality can cause increased anxiety around personal safety. People who experience vicarious trauma tend to become more anxious about related matters. If you experience vicarious trauma, it can be difficult to “un-see” disturbing images - whether you saw them in person or on the news/social media. One differentiator that separates a trauma response from other factors that can trigger these symptoms is intrusive thoughts. Related: The Link Between Childhood Trauma and Adult Loneliness How to Mitigate Vicarious Trauma They often identify with victims and fear that what they see happening to others will happen to themselves or someone they love (like you!). More research needs to be conducted to uncover the long-term consequences of witnessing these events.Ĭhildren, whose imaginations are vivid, lack the coping skills to deal with vicarious trauma. People of color are at an even higher risk of suffering from vicarious trauma as a result of the coverage of the Black Lives Matter movement, as they watched what was supposed to be a positive movement for change be overshadowed by acts of hate and police brutality. (If these symptoms are recurring, it could signal a need to seek professional help to manage them.) They might suffer from flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety. Individuals with a history of trauma who struggle with PTSD can have their trauma reactivated or triggered by the stories and images they see on TV and social media. ![]() And it’s having a profound effect - especially on individuals with a history of trauma, people of color and children. Who’s Most Vulnerable to Vicarious Trauma?Ĭoverage of COVID-19, police brutality and violent riots have upped the ante in recent months. Cell phones and social media feeds have made local, national and world news available 24/7. Gone are the days when we had to wait for the evening news to see it all. We hear firsthand accounts from victims, whose stories are highly personal - and painful.Īnd it’s all more accessible than ever before. A 2015 study found that almost 25 percent of people who had no prior trauma reported traumatic stress symptoms - vicarious trauma - after watching violent media coverage.įrom mass shootings to plane crashes, sexual exploitation, terrorist attacks to natural disasters, we’re bombarded by graphic images and videos. Individuals who work in traditional “helping” professions (e.g., first responders, nurses, doctors, social workers, therapists) are highly susceptible to vicarious trauma, particularly when they cross the fine line into “compassion fatigue” or burnout.īut evidence suggests that, regardless of profession, the general public is also vulnerable to vicarious trauma. Symptoms can range from anxiety to intrusive thoughts, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, hypervigilance, depressed mood and feelings of hopelessness. Vicarious trauma - also known as “secondary trauma” - can occur as the result of empathetic engagement with others who’ve experienced trauma. You could be among a growing number of individuals experiencing vicarious trauma. If you feel shaken by images you see on the news and in your social media feed, you’re not alone.
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