Management of Post-Traumatic and Secondary Traumatic Stress in Healthcare Professionals _ ____________
• Emotional dysregulation: Sarah has become increasingly irritable and anxious. She often has nightmares about the cases she’s working on and sometimes has trouble sleeping. She’s noticed a growing sense of hopelessness and despair about the state of the families she encounters. • Intrusive thoughts: Sarah experiences intrusive thoughts related to the traumatic stories she’s heard and witnessed. These thoughts often come out of nowhere and are distressing to her. She can’t help but replay some of the more harrowing experiences in her mind. • Emotional numbing: Although she used to feel a strong sense of empathy for the children and families she served, Sarah now finds herself becoming emotionally detached as a coping mechanism. She has difficulty connecting with her clients on a personal level. • Avoidance behavior: Sarah avoids discussing her work with friends and family and has started to withdraw from social activities. She no longer engages in self-care practices that used to bring her joy, such as exercise and hobbies. • Decreased job satisfaction: Sarah’s job satisfaction has decreased significantly. She finds it increasingly challenging to remain motivated and engaged at work. She often thinks about quitting her job but worries about leaving the vulnerable children without an advocate. • Physical symptoms: Sarah has developed physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, and fatigue. These symptoms have become chronic and are impacting her overall health and well-being. Questions 1. What type of self-care activities will help Sarah during her time off? 2. How could Sarah separate herself and her emotions more effectively at work? 3. What types of interactions or support would benefit Sarah the most? INTERVENTIONS AND TREATMENT Recognizing the importance of addressing her STS, Sarah decided to seek help from a therapist who specializes in trauma. The therapist recommended several strategies and interven- tions to help Sarah cope with her secondary traumatic stress. Trauma-informed Therapy. Sarah engaged in trauma-focused therapy to process her emotions, explore her traumatic expe- riences, and develop coping strategies. This therapy aimed to help her regain emotional regulation and build resilience. Self-care. Sarah was encouraged to prioritize self-care activities, including exercise, mindfulness, and relaxation techniques; reduce her stress levels; and improve her overall well-being. Peer Support. Sarah joined a peer support group for social workers who have experienced STS. Sharing her experiences and listening to others provided validation and a sense of camaraderie, helping her feel less isolated.
Burnout has been associated with an increased risk of expe- riencing PTSD symptoms among healthcare professionals. Studies have shown that healthcare providers who experience burnout are more susceptible to developing PTSD symptoms associated with their work (Raudenská et al., 2020). The emo- tional exhaustion and distress associated with burnout can make healthcare professionals more vulnerable to the negative impact of traumatic experiences and increase the likelihood of developing PTSD symptoms. Additionally, burnout has been found to be related to STS symptoms in healthcare professionals. STS refers to the indirect exposure and emotional response to adverse experiences of patients or clients. Healthcare professionals who frequently witness traumatic events or hear traumatic stories may experi- ence STS symptoms, including intrusive thoughts, emotional distress, and avoidance behavior. Burnout contributes to STS by diminishing professionals’ emotional resources and resilience, making them more susceptible to experiencing the effects of secondary trauma (Prasad et al., 2021). It is important to acknowledge and address the link between burnout and PTSD/STS symptoms in healthcare professions. Organizations can implement strategies such as providing training in stress management and resilience, promoting self- care practices, offering psychological support, and creating a supportive work environment to mitigate burnout and reduce the risk of PTSD and STS symptoms among healthcare profes- sionals (Raudenská et al., 2020).
Self-Assessment Question
4. How is burnout related to PTSD and STS? A) Emotional exhaustion makes professionals more vulnerable. B) Burnout causes professionals to quit their jobs. C) Burnout makes professionals lack resiliency. D) There is not a link between burnout and STS. CASE STUDY 2 Sarah is a 32-year-old social worker with eight years of experience working in a busy child protective services agency in a large urban area. She has always been passionate about helping vulnerable children and families, but lately, she has been experiencing symptoms of secondary traumatic stress (STS) due to the challenging and emotionally taxing nature of her work. Sarah’s job involves investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect, assessing the safety of children, and making difficult decisions about their welfare. She regularly encounters traumatic stories, including physical and sexual abuse, neglect, substance abuse, and domestic violence within families. Her daily responsibilities include conduct- ing home visits, talking to children and caregivers, collaborating with law enforcement, and testifying in court when necessary. Symptoms of secondary traumatic stress (STS) include:
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