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Health Care Professionals

Compassion fatigue or vicarious trauma can happen for those working with trauma survivors or witnessing events. It is taking on the trauma indirectly. It begins to change your personal beliefs about the world. Just because you didn't experience the trauma doesn't mean what you are experiencing isn't real. Vicarious trauma or compassion fatigue can lead to depression, anxiety and burnout. Those who are at risk of experiencing these conditions include, Nurses, doctors, surgeons, counselors, social workers, police officers, soldiers, rescue workers, clergy, journalists and lawyers.

Few of the common symptoms in these categories are:

Physical

  • Insomnia or too much sleep
  • Body tension
  • Headaches

Emotional

  • Feelings of guilt or shame
  • Feelings of anger and frustration
  • Feelings of fear and anxiety

Social

  • Social isolation/withdrawal
  • Loss of work motivation
  • Numbing

Everyone's experience of vicarious trauma or compassion fatigue is different. You do not have to suffer alone. Counseling is a great way to help heal from your experiences and start taking care of yourself as you take care of others. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please contact me today for a free consultation.