Defining Secondary Trauma
The Effects of Secondary Trauma on Mental and Physical Health
Secondary trauma stress can manifest in emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physical symptoms that closely resemble direct trauma exposure. Individuals often report intrusive thoughts, anxiety, hypervigilance, difficulty sleeping, and emotional numbing.
A 2022 study in the Frontiers in Psychology journal found that up to 30% of trauma therapists experience clinically significant levels of secondary trauma. These professionals often carry internalized emotional residue from repeated exposure to patient narratives, especially when boundaries and self-care practices are insufficient.
Secondary trauma may lead to changes in worldview; such as increased pessimism, mistrust, or chronic anxiety about safety. Physically, it can trigger fatigue, gastrointestinal distress, or cardiovascular symptoms related to prolonged stress hormone exposure. Over time, without intervention, secondary trauma may progress into burnout, depression, or full-scale trauma-related disorders.
Dr. Laurie Anne Pearlman, a leading researcher in vicarious trauma, noted, “Our emotional connection to others is what makes helping possible, but it also makes us vulnerable. Without protective strategies, the cost can be profound” (Sidran Foundation, 2021).
Understanding the Causes and Risk Factors of Second Hand Trauma
Second hand trauma is most often linked to repeated emotional proximity to the traumatic experiences of others, but personal and systemic factors can heighten the risk. Individuals who work in caregiving or crisis-related roles face sustained exposure, often without adequate emotional debriefing or recovery time.
Personal history plays a role on Second Hand Trauma
Those with unresolved trauma of their own may be more susceptible. High empathy, poor work-life boundaries, lack of institutional support, and chronic stress environments further increase vulnerability. A 2021 review in the Journal of Traumatic Stress emphasized that secondary trauma emerges more rapidly in professionals lacking adequate supervision or emotional validation in the workplace.
Systemic contributors such as excessive caseloads, limited access to wellness resources, and exposure to organizational trauma can compound these effects. Even loved ones supporting trauma survivors in personal life, such as family of abuse survivors or veterans, can experience secondary trauma when their emotional boundaries are overwhelmed.
Does Politics Inflict Secondary Trauma on Society?
Political violence, policy injustice, and constant exposure to divisive rhetoric can inflict widespread emotional harm, producing symptoms of secondary trauma at a societal level. While secondary trauma is most commonly studied in caregiving relationships, researchers are increasingly recognizing its relevance to populations exposed to collective suffering through media and governance.
Events such as mass shootings, publicized police violence, refugee crises, and political instability can evoke prolonged psychological distress in individuals who are not directly harmed but are repeatedly exposed to the suffering of others. A 2021 study published in Global Public Health found that ongoing exposure to politically motivated violence and civil unrest increased levels of vicarious trauma and depressive symptoms across communities, even among those not physically present at the events.
Media Exposure and Secondary Trauma
Dr. Roxane Cohen Silver, a professor of psychological science at UC Irvine, observed, “Repeated media exposure to traumatic national events such as terrorism or mass shootings can lead to acute stress responses, not just in survivors but in millions of viewers” (UCI News, 2020).
Populations with preexisting trauma, systemic marginalization, or high empathy are particularly vulnerable. When individuals witness injustice, dehumanization, or large-scale suffering enacted or exacerbated by political systems, they may experience helplessness, hypervigilance, anger, or despair hallmarks of secondary trauma stress. The term “collective trauma” has been increasingly used to describe this phenomenon at a national or cultural level.
Secondary Trauma and Addiction
Secondary trauma can serve as a hidden contributor to substance use, as individuals turn to alcohol, opioids, or stimulants to numb the emotional weight of witnessing others’ suffering. While trauma is a well-established risk factor for addiction, second hand trauma is often overlooked as a root cause, particularly among caregivers, frontline workers, and close family members of trauma survivors.
When secondary trauma goes unaddressed, it may result in chronic anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and sleep disturbances. In an effort to self-soothe, individuals may begin to rely on substances to manage their symptoms. A 2023 study in the Drug and Alcohol Dependence journal found that vicarious trauma among healthcare professionals was significantly correlated with increased alcohol consumption and sedative misuse, particularly during high-intensity service periods such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Gabor Maté, addiction expert and trauma physician, noted, “The question is never ‘Why the addiction?’ but ‘Why the pain?’ Secondary trauma creates pain that is often invisible but no less profound” (DrGaborMate.com).
Patients experiencing secondary trauma may not view their distress as valid, particularly when they were not the direct victims of trauma. This minimization can delay help-seeking, increasing reliance on substances to cope. In treatment settings, acknowledging and validating the emotional load of second hand trauma is essential for effective addiction recovery, especially in dual-diagnosis care.
At Still Mind Florida, our integrated approach to trauma and addiction recognizes how deeply interwoven these issues can be. Our clinicians provide trauma-informed substance use treatment as dual diagnosis that addresses the emotional origins of addiction, including those rooted in unprocessed secondary trauma stress.
Treatment and Prevention Strategies for Secondary Trauma
Treatment for secondary trauma involves restoring emotional safety, building resilience, and helping patients reconnect with their own well-being through structured therapeutic care. Trauma-informed therapy can help individuals recognize their symptoms, validate their experiences, and build tools for emotional regulation.
Approaches such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and trauma-focused CBT have been shown to reduce symptoms of vicarious trauma and help individuals reframe distorted beliefs that arise from prolonged exposure. Peer support groups and supervision models also provide critical emotional processing for those in caregiving professions.
A 2020 clinical study published in BMC Psychiatry found that structured resilience training programs reduced secondary trauma symptoms and improved coping outcomes in frontline mental health workers.
At Still Mind Florida, we offer targeted support for patients coping with the hidden emotional toll of second hand trauma. Our clinicians are trained in trauma-informed approaches that prioritize safety, validation, and recovery. Call us now (561) 783 55-07
