Understanding Vicarious Trauma And Secondary Traumatic Stress

Vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress are terms used to describe the indirect trauma we experience when exposed to others’ trauma, whether it be through retelling of a story or through disturbing images on the internet. There are many ways we can experience vicarious trauma. As human beings, we are naturally empathetic and can feel others’ pain and suffering. Some people however work in a profession and environment that deals with others’ trauma all day long and so are more prone to trauma and its effects.