I’m sure many of you are familiar with the concept of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But what about secondary traumatic stress? This is something I’ve recently become more acquainted with through my work in mental health.
As a mental health worker, I come face to face with an array of human experiences that can be harrowing and emotionally taxing. Secondary trauma is the result of exposure to stories of trauma from others, which can lead to similar symptoms of PTSD such as avoidance, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, depression and anxiety. It’s not always easy to keep emotional distance from clients or their situations.
It’s taken me a while to realise that I was suffering from secondary traumatic stress. Often times it manifests itself as irritability and fatigue – things that were put down to my ‘normal stress levels’ or ‘just part of the job’. When I began taking steps to address the underlying issues associated with STS, I noticed a dramatic difference in my mood and energy levels.
I’ve learnt that self-care is an important tool for managing secondary traumatic stress - this includes investigating how we can practice resilience building techniques such as restorative mindfulness practices; engaging in relaxation activities; and setting healthy boundaries between our professional lives and our private ones. It took me a while to understand that self-care is not selfish but essential for continuing to serve those in need in our communities.
My journey into understanding secondary trauma has made me realise just how important self-care is especially when working in emotional occupations like mental health work – it could be the difference between getting burnout or enjoying longevity in your career.
16 Likes
Thank you for your post! It’s definitely eye opening to read about Secondary Traumatic Stress and how it can manifest in similar ways to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I think it’s incredibly important that we, as professionals working with vulnerable people, manage our own emotions so that we’re better able to support those around us.
As a 32-year old woman in the mental health field myself, I can totally relate to the struggles of trying to maintain emotional distance from clients and their stories. This has been something that I’ve had to learn through experience and self-reflection. It’s taken me some time to realise how important it is not simply for my own wellbeing but also for the service I’m able to provide.
I believe that having a good self-care routine is essential for anyone in any kind of caring role – whether it be mental health, social work or otherwise. Finding practices that can help build resilience such as mindfulness and relaxation techniques can do wonders for managing stress levels - even if they seem like small actions, they really do make a difference over time!
Overall, thank you again for raising this awareness and highlighting the importance of recognizing secondary traumatic stress and taking steps towards managing it wisely - both personally and professionally.
I definitely understand the concept of secondary traumatic stress. As a 58-year-old woman, I’ve worked in various emotionally taxing fields throughout my life, and have seen how important it is to take care of yourself first. Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to maintain that emotional distance from clients or their circumstances.
Taking the time to address any underlying issues associated with STS will make all the difference in your mood and energy levels. It can be hard to remember that self-care isn’t selfish but rather essential for continuing to do what we love without burnout. This should be an ongoing practice even when our profession doesn’t feel overwhelming - that way if something unexpected comes up, we’re better prepared to handle it.
I’m so glad you’ve taken steps towards understanding your secondary trauma, and I’m wishing you all the best on your journey!
Hey buddy, I totally get where you’re coming from. I work in mental health too, and it can really take a toll on you. It’s tough to hear all those traumatic stories and not have it affect you in some way. I’ve definitely experienced some of those symptoms you mentioned, and it’s easy to just brush them off as ‘normal stress’. But you’re so right about self-care being essential. Taking steps to address the underlying issues and practicing resilience building techniques has made a world of difference for me too. It’s not selfish at all to take care of ourselves - it’s necessary for us to keep helping others. Keep up the good work, and remember to take care of yourself!
Hey, I completely understand where you’re coming from. It’s tough working in the mental health field and hearing about the trauma that others have gone through. I’ve definitely felt the effects of secondary traumatic stress myself, and it’s not easy. It’s great that you’ve been able to recognize the symptoms and take steps to address them. Self-care is so important, and it’s not selfish at all. It’s essential for being able to continue helping others. I’ve found that practicing mindfulness and setting boundaries has made a huge difference for me, too. It’s a tough road, but taking care of ourselves is key to avoiding burnout and being able to have a long, fulfilling career in mental health. Keep taking care of yourself, you’re making a difference every day.
Hey, I can totally relate to what you’re going through. As a mental health worker, I understand how hearing about others’ trauma can really take a toll on our own mental health. It’s so easy to brush off the signs of secondary traumatic stress as just part of the job, but it’s really important that we address it and take care of ourselves. I’ve found that practicing mindfulness and setting boundaries between work and personal life has made a huge difference for me. It’s not selfish to take care of ourselves - it’s necessary in order to continue helping others. Keep taking those steps to address the underlying issues and prioritize your own well-being. You’re not alone in this, and I’m here if you ever need to chat about it.
Hey, I completely understand where you’re coming from. I’ve also been dealing with secondary traumatic stress in my mental health work, and it’s not easy. It’s so important to recognize the symptoms and take steps to address it, like you mentioned. Self-care is crucial - I’ve found that practicing mindfulness and setting boundaries has made a huge difference for me too. It’s definitely not selfish to take care of ourselves, especially in such emotionally demanding work. It’s great to hear that you’ve noticed a difference in your mood and energy levels after taking these steps. Keep taking care of yourself, and remember that you’re not alone in this!
Hey, man, I totally get where you’re coming from. I work in mental health too, and it can be tough dealing with other people’s trauma day in and day out. It took me a while to realize that I was experiencing secondary traumatic stress too. Once I started taking steps to address it, like practicing mindfulness and setting boundaries, I noticed a huge improvement in my mood and energy levels. It’s so important for us to take care of ourselves so that we can continue to help others. I’m glad you’re realizing the importance of self-care too. Keep it up, man, and remember that it’s totally okay to put yourself first sometimes. You’re doing important work, and taking care of yourself is essential for the long haul.
Hey, man, I can totally relate to what you’re going through. Working in mental health can be really heavy at times, and it’s so important to take care of ourselves. I’ve experienced similar symptoms of secondary traumatic stress, and it’s tough to realize that it’s not just ‘normal stress.’ It’s great that you’ve been able to recognize the signs and take steps to address it. Setting those healthy boundaries between work and personal life is key, and I’ve found that practicing mindfulness and relaxation activities really helps. It’s not selfish to prioritize our own well-being, especially when we’re helping others. Keep taking care of yourself, and know that you’re not alone in this. We’ve got this!
Thank you for sharing your experience with secondary traumatic stress. It’s definitely a real thing, and I can relate to the symptoms you mentioned. It’s so important to recognize when we’re experiencing STS and take steps to address it. I’ve found that practicing mindfulness and setting boundaries has been really helpful for me too. It’s easy to put our own needs on the backburner when we’re focused on helping others, but self-care is crucial for our well-being and for being able to continue to support those in need. I’m glad you’ve found ways to manage STS and improve your mood and energy levels. Keep taking care of yourself, and know that you’re not alone in this experience. We’re all in this together, and it’s okay to prioritize our own mental health.
Hey, I totally get where you’re coming from. As a fellow mental health worker, I’ve experienced the same struggles with secondary traumatic stress. It’s so easy to brush off the symptoms as just part of the job, but taking steps to address it has made a world of difference. Self-care has been a game-changer for me too. I’ve really embraced mindfulness practices and setting boundaries, and it’s helped me feel more balanced and energized. It’s so true that taking care of ourselves isn’t selfish - it’s essential for the long haul. I’m glad you’re recognizing the importance of self-care, and it’s great to hear about the positive impact it’s had on your mood and energy levels. Keep up the good work, and remember to prioritize your own well-being. You deserve it!
Hey there! I completely understand where you’re coming from. I’ve also experienced secondary traumatic stress in my work in mental health. It’s tough to balance being there for our clients while also taking care of ourselves. I’ve found that practicing mindfulness and setting boundaries has been really helpful for me. It’s not always easy, but I’ve noticed a big difference in my mood and energy levels since I started focusing on self-care. It’s true that self-care isn’t selfish - it’s necessary for us to continue helping others. Hang in there, and remember that you’re not alone in this. We’ve got to support each other and make sure we’re taking care of ourselves so we can keep doing the important work we do. You’ve got this!
Hey, I can totally relate to what you’re going through. I work in mental health too, and I’ve definitely experienced some of the symptoms of secondary traumatic stress. It’s easy to dismiss irritability and fatigue as just part of the job, but it’s important to recognize when it’s actually taking a toll on our mental and emotional well-being. Self-care has been a game changer for me as well. Taking the time to practice mindfulness, engage in relaxation activities, and set healthy boundaries has made a huge difference in how I feel day to day. I used to feel guilty for taking time for myself, but I’ve come to realize that it’s essential for our own well-being and our ability to continue helping others. It’s great to hear that you’ve seen a dramatic difference in your mood and energy levels by addressing the underlying issues associated with STS. Keep taking care of yourself – you’re doing important work, and you deserve to feel your best while doing it.
Hey, I hear you. It’s tough being in the mental health field and constantly being exposed to other people’s trauma. I’ve been there too and it’s not easy. It’s great that you’ve recognized the signs of secondary traumatic stress and started taking steps to address it. Self-care is so important, and it’s not selfish at all. It’s necessary for us to be able to keep helping others. I’ve also found that setting boundaries and making time for relaxation activities has made a big difference in managing STS. Hang in there, and keep prioritizing your well-being. You’re doing important work, and taking care of yourself is part of that.
Hey man, I completely understand what you’re going through. It’s tough to realize that you’re experiencing secondary traumatic stress, especially when you’re just trying to do your job and help others. I also work in the mental health field, and I’ve had similar struggles. It’s true that self-care is crucial for managing STS. I’ve found that mindfulness practices and setting boundaries between work and personal life have made a big difference for me. It’s not selfish to take care of yourself - it’s necessary for being able to continue helping others. Remember that you’re not alone in this, and seeking support from colleagues or a therapist can also be really helpful. Hang in there, and keep taking those steps to prioritize your well-being.
Hey man, I completely understand where you’re coming from. It’s tough to work in mental health and not be affected by the stories and experiences we hear from others. I’ve also experienced symptoms of secondary traumatic stress, and you’re right - it can easily be brushed off as just part of the job. I’ve found that self-care is crucial in managing STS, and it’s not selfish at all. It’s necessary for us to continue helping others without burning out. I’ve started practicing mindfulness and setting boundaries, and I’ve noticed a big difference in my mood and energy levels too. It’s great that you’re taking steps to address this issue, and I hope others in our field can do the same. Keep up the good work and take care of yourself!
Hey, I completely understand where you’re coming from. As a mental health worker myself, I’ve also experienced the effects of secondary traumatic stress. It can be really tough to separate ourselves from the trauma that our clients share with us. I used to brush off my own symptoms as just part of the job, but I’ve learned that self-care is absolutely vital. Taking the time to practice mindfulness, engaging in relaxation activities, and setting healthy boundaries has made a huge difference for me. It’s not selfish at all - it’s necessary for us to continue helping others. It’s great that you’ve recognized the signs and are taking steps to address them. Hang in there, and know that you’re not alone in this. It’s a tough gig, but taking care of ourselves is the key to longevity in our field.