Mental Health Matters: Indirect Trauma Can Lead To Secondary Traumatic Stress Or Vicarious Trauma, Expert Explains

Do you ever feel emotionally drained after hearing about someone else’s trauma? Have you had a conversation with a friend who shared a painful experience, or maybe you binge-watched a crime documentary and felt uneasy for days? If these feelings resonate with you, you may have experienced a form of trauma exposure. While this is a common reaction, repeated exposure to distressing content can lead to deeper psychological effects, especially for those in caregiving or trauma-related professions.

Over time, this exposure can take a toll on their mental well-being, manifesting as Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) or Vicarious Trauma (VT). This week, in our “Mental Health Matters” campaign, we spoke to Archana Singhal, Counsellor and Family Therapist, Founder, Mindwell Counsel, Delhi, who explained how these conditions differ, their causes, and management measures.

What Is Trauma Exposure?

Trauma exposure refers to experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. This can happen in two ways:

• Direct Exposure: The person experiences the event firsthand, such as surviving violence.
• Indirect Exposure: The person learns about traumatic events from others, often through stories, images, or secondhand accounts.

For individuals in trauma-heavy professions, indirect exposure is an unavoidable part of their job. They constantly hear about difficult experiences, making them susceptible to emotional distress. Over time, this can contribute to conditions like STS and VT.

What Is Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS)?

“STS refers to the stress experienced by people indirectly exposed to trauma through their interactions with people who have experienced a traumatic event. This exposure might occur when professionals, such as therapists, social workers, or emergency responders, listen to trauma survivors’ stories or provide care for them,” explained Singhal.

STS involves symptoms similar to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), including intrusive thoughts, nightmares, anxiety, and emotional numbness. It is considered a more acute reaction to trauma exposure, where an individual’s stress response mirrors that of a person who has directly experienced the traumatic event.

“The symptoms of STS can fluctuate, with people often experiencing intense reactions soon after exposure, followed by potential recovery if the stressor is addressed or if support systems are in place,” added Singhal.

According to the Frontiers in Psychology, secondary trauma can influence resilience and hinder job performance. This might manifest as reduced effectiveness in interventions with patients, clients, or community members, a struggle to acknowledge negative feelings due to denial of workplace challenges, and emotional detachment, which can affect personal relationships and professional interactions.

Also Read: Can Trauma Affect Your Long-Term Cognitive Function? Here’s What The Expert Says

What Is Vicarious Trauma (VT)?

VT occurs when someone is repeatedly exposed to others’ traumatic experiences. Over time, this can deeply affect their perspective on life and how they see themselves.

While STS focuses more on the acute emotional reactions to trauma, VT encompasses the long-term psychological effects that can alter a person’s emotional well-being, beliefs, and worldview.

VT can affect professionals over time, as they repeatedly hear about, witness, or are involved in traumatic events. “It may cause individuals to become hyper-vigilant, distrustful, or emotionally distant, and can fundamentally change their perceptions of safety, humanity, and the world around them. VT is more enduring and can lead to lasting changes in how someone copes with future stress and relates to others,” said Singhal.

Key Differences Between STS and VT

Although both STS and VT stem from exposure to trauma, they differ in several ways:

Duration and Impact

• STS is generally more immediate and can be resolved with time and proper support.
• VT is often more chronic and involves deeper, lasting changes in a person’s worldview and emotional state.

Symptoms

• STS shares many similarities with PTSD, including flashbacks and emotional distress.
• VT, however, results in more profound alterations in beliefs about the world and one’s safety.

Cumulative Nature

VT is more likely to develop over time as a result of sustained exposure to traumatic material, whereas STS can arise from a single, significant event or ongoing exposure.

Also Read: #AskTheExpert: Your Top Questions On The Mental Health Impact of Love, Heartbreak, and Toxic Relationships, Answered By Leading Experts

Who Is at Risk?

While anyone can experience STS or VT, certain professionals are particularly vulnerable due to their frequent exposure to trauma:

• Therapists and Counsellors: Regularly listen to clients’ traumatic experiences.
• Social Workers: Engage with individuals facing abuse, neglect, and crisis.
• Healthcare Professionals: Treat patients with severe injuries, chronic illnesses, and life-threatening conditions.
• Emergency Responders: Frequently witness distressing scenes during emergencies.
• Journalists and Human Rights Workers: Report on war, violence, and humanitarian crises.
• Even family members of trauma survivors can be affected. Those supporting loved ones who have gone through difficult experiences may also develop signs of STS or VT over time.

How to Manage and Prevent STS and VT?

Since trauma exposure is often unavoidable in certain professions, adopting strategies to mitigate its effects is essential. Singhal recommends the following approaches:

1. Self-awareness and Reflection

It is important to recognise the signs of STS and VT early. Regular self-check-ins can help people identify when they feel overwhelmed or emotionally exhausted.

2. Professional Supervision and Support

Therapists, social workers, and other professionals should seek supervision or peer support. Talking to colleagues about distressing cases can provide emotional relief and alternative perspectives.

3. Setting Boundaries

You should establish clear professional boundaries to prevent emotional overinvestment. This may include limiting exposure to distressing material outside of work hours.

4. Practicing Self-Care

Engaging in self-care activities, such as:

• Regular exercise and physical activity
• Mindfulness and meditation
• Creative hobbies like painting, writing, or music
• Spending time with loved ones and seeking social support

5. Therapy and Counselling

Seeking therapy can help professionals process their experiences and develop coping strategies. Trauma-focused therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be particularly beneficial.

6. Organisational Support

Workplaces should provide mental health resources and encourage open discussions about trauma exposure. Policies that promote mental well-being, such as offering debriefing sessions and access to counsellors, can make a significant difference.

Bottomline

Singhal concluded, “While both STS and VT describe the emotional effects of exposure to trauma, STS is a more immediate, symptom-focused response. On the other hand, VT represents a more deep-seated transformation in a person’s worldview and emotional resilience. Both conditions highlight the importance of self-care and support for individuals working in trauma-related fields.”

[Disclaimer: This article contains information provided by an expert and is for informational purposes only. Hence, we advise you to consult your professional if you are dealing with any health issue to avoid complications.]