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Nov 05, 2019, 06:30 AM
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Member Since: Oct 2019
Location: You'll never know
Posts: 940
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What are some tips to help us helpers reduce vicarious/secondary trauma and/or compassion fatigue, etc.?
For example, *boundaries* and *effective communication* are two tips that can help alleviate stress when helping.
Another example: Knowing your own limitations to what you can offer in terms of time, energy, words, emotional support, instrumental support, etc. You may be able to offer some help, but not other types of help. For instance, I ask some people whom I barely know to post their concerns as a thread on a forum, so that I can find support for myself while helping out another fellow PC member. I know that my limitation is feeling singled out as someone's only source of support, which can tap into my own low energy reserves affiliated with my chronic fatigue syndrome. To help me to help others, I set boundaries for myself and with others, but I keep the doors of communication open so that I can still offer limited support while finding that person more support. --That's just one example.
I'm sure there are more tips many of you can offer, especially those who are professionals. But it's important to recognize that vicarious/secondary trauma can happen to anyone who is a support system for someone else - not just with professionals who work in the helping fields or as first responders. All of us could use some self-care as well as support when helping others. All of us are susceptible to exceeding our own individual thresholds of distress tolerance.
Please share some ideas you have to reduce vicarious/secondary trauma while, at the same time, learning to embrace and enjoy helping others, empathizing with others, and not giving up on relationships that could easily be reciprocated when you're in need of support from those whom you're currently supporting. 
Thank you!  (((safe hugs)))
PS: Keep in mind that not all forms of trauma lead to PTSD, and not all forms of stress lead to a diagnosable mental disorder. Thus, I've placed this thread here since it really does fall under "other mental health discussions." Symptoms may not add up to a diagnosis, at least not in the clinical range.
Nevertheless, these symptoms could use some support and coping skills.
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