Coping with Indirect Trauma

Recent armed conflicts, violent crimes against individuals and groups, natural and man-made disasters, pandemics have brought a myriad of traumatising experiences to millions of people all over the world. Although, you don't have to go through a traumatic event yourself to be traumatised. Sometimes it's enough to witness others' suffering or listen to traumatised people's testimonies and stories. This is what's known as a secondary trauma. Among signs of this indirect trauma can be the following:

• becoming overly involved emotionally with the traumatised individual or the event witnessed;

• feeling of overwhelmedness;

• sleep disturbances and nightmares;

• social withdrawal;

• feeling of loss of hope or purpose in life.

How to 'protect' yourself from indirect trauma in the present chaos and unrest in the world?

• Limit your access to social media and other sources of information that might relate to causing trauma;

• take care of yourself;

• look after your physical and mental wellbeing;

• try to do something that brings you positive emotions on regular basis;

• take time for self-reflection;

• try to maintain a healthy work/life balance;

• talk about your struggles with a professional.