Many of the reactions to secondary trauma are similar to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and can be just as damaging. The range of impacts span the emotional, cognitive, physical, relationship, and spiritual.
Some of the common reactions to secondary trauma are:
- Avoidance
- Lack of feeling
- Numbing in interactions with others
- Withdrawal from family, friends and support networks
- Avoiding situations where you may be reminded of trauma or which may trigger trauma reactions (including interactions with those you serve)
- Depression
- Hyper-Arousal
- General or specific anxiety
- Increased startle reactions
- Vigilance
- Anger
- Increased sexual behavior
- Substance abuse or other potentially negative coping behavior
- Continued revisiting
of incidents
- Intrusive images
- Nightmares
- Negative feelings about
the world and mistrust of the people in it
