I wanted to create a blog post to reflect something I have been learning in my trauma class for my master’s degree. A book we were all assigned to read called Trauma Stewardship by Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky and Connie Burk discuss how front-line and mental health professionals experience second-hand trauma from their careers to the point of it impacting them mentally and physically. Laura was motivated to write about the impact of trauma on workers when she realized during a family trip she couldn’t admire the view from the cliffs and only wondered about many people have attempted suicide. Additionally, Laura and Connie include unique stories from people in different trauma-centered careers and how their work has impacted their lives. An example is a paramedic who discusses her wake-up call when she decided to prank her coworker in the middle of a violent motor vehicle accident. She took this chance much like the author to address the underlying issue known as trauma exposure response “…defined as the transformation that takes place within us as a result of exposure to the suffering of other living beings or the planet.” (Van Dernoot Lipsky & Burk, 2009, p. 41). Due to the nature of a job that deals with trauma, it makes sense that the person witnessing all this pain and suffering can also experience some form of impact too. Van Dernoot Lipsky & Burk (2009) provide a list of 16 possible warning signs someone is experiencing a trauma exposure response, I have listed them below:

1. Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness

2. A sense that one can never do enough

3. Hypervigilance

4. Diminished creativity

5. Inability to embrace complexity

6. Minimizing

7. Chronic exhaustion/physical ailments

8. Inability to listen/deliberate avoidance

9. Dissociative moments

10. Sense of persecution

11. Guilt

12. Fear

13. Anger and cynicism

14. Inability to empathize/numbing

15. Addictions

16. Gradiosity: An inflated sense of importance related to one’s work

This kind of work that we do as therapists, first-responders, helpers, front-liners, etc. the ones that will run into the fire while others are running away… it is work that is rewarding and there is always a reason why we decided to get involved. It is also essential to acknowledge and note that this job can also be draining, painful, and traumatic. This is why it is important to know what the signs are so that if you as a worker and identify with any of these symptoms, you can seek the support you need. Using the analogy of putting on your oxygen mask first before assisting others in a plane, it is crucial to change the narrative to the focus of self-care, and self-regulation of trauma workers in order for them to be able to help others.

Written by Daniela Jimenez Sanford