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When Secondary Trauma Hits
Compassion fatigue, also known as secondary traumatic stress (STS), is “stress resulting from helping or wanting to help a traumatized or suffering person.” It is common among individuals that work directly with trauma victims such as, therapists, nurses, psychologists, police officers, first responders, animal welfare workers, and anyone who helps others. This includes family members and other informal caregivers. How does one explain the effects of secondary trauma? For me, it is an overwhelming feeling that words cannot describe. It’s volumes of information that hold an emotional charge on my body, mind, and spirit on a daily basis. Finding my way through secondary trauma has been a lifelong journey with many roadblocks followed by a light at the end of the tunnel. At times, realizing that I am carrying the burden of someone else is nonexistent. I continue to provide crisis counseling without a thought of the effec...
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