By Heather C. Forkey, MD, Elaine Schulte, MD, MPH, and Luanne Thorndyke, MD
Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is the emotional duress caused by indirect exposure to distressing events experienced by others. Health care providers and caregivers are particularly susceptible to secondary stress due to regular exposure to difficult and painful clinical situations that evoke intrinsic empathy necessary to provide effective care. Understanding STS as a normal stress response not only helps to make sense of the symptoms but also suggests a way forward. Opportunities for those in health care to address STS can be found among our colleagues and in our own settings and may provide a meaningful source of support if accessed effectively.
Share This Post!
Traumatic Bonding
By Kelly L. Burns, MA, LPC, ATR-P A traumatic bond occurs when you are involved in an abusive relationship, and the abuser becomes an essential part of your life. Abusive relationships [...]
Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska Takes On the Trauma Of War
By Simon Shuster/Kyiv lena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, got to bed late on the eve of the Russian invasion. Her kids were long asleep in the presidential residence south [...]
Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth after the Recent Shooting
By The National Child Traumatic Stress Network The recent shooting has been an extremely frightening experience, and the days, weeks, and months following can be very stressful. Your children and family [...]
Two Professors Found What Creates a Mass Shooter. Will Politicians Pay Attention?
By Melanie Warner Each time a high-profile mass shooting happens in America, a grieving and incredulous nation scrambles for answers. Who was this criminal and how could he (usually) have committed [...]
13 Million Children Face Hunger Every Day – and the Problem is Worse During the Summer
By Move For Hunger There are 13 million children in America who don’t know where their next meal will come from. Throughout the school year, many participate in programs that provide [...]
Sexual Abuse of Children at Camp is an Epidemic:
By Mick S. Grewal Sexual abuse by camp counselors is a national epidemic, according to various organizations, including Crime Stoppers. Every year, nearly 10 million children attend summer camp. In 2018, CBS [...]