Education and safety note. This page is for general information. It cannot diagnose you, assess your individual risk, or replace care from a qualified professional. If you are in immediate danger, may harm yourself or someone else, cannot stay safe, or have symptoms that may be medically urgent, contact local emergency services or crisis support. In Ireland, call 112 or 999 or go to the nearest emergency department; you can also read the HSE crisis guidance. Medication decisions need to be discussed with a qualified prescriber.

When supporting others affects you

When a person is put in contact with the trauma, fear, grief or cruelty of others on a regular basis, vicarious trauma can set in. You will hear it talked about in the context of those who work as therapists, counsellors, doctors, nurses, social workers and related areas, as well as emergency responders, journalists, lawyers, advocates, clergy, charity workers and carers. But it is not limited to professionals; family and friends who are close to someone in the aftermath of a traumatic event can be affected too. Even without having been there for the original event, the sheer force of repeated empathic contact can alter the way one feels and thinks about the world.

McCann and Pearlman came up with "vicarious traumatization" to describe the effect this type of work has on a helper's sense of safety, trust, control and esteem when dealing with victims. In time, the term has bled into other concepts like secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue and burnout. They are not the same thing, but they all speak to the fact that caring for others can have a psychological cost.

Distress is not a test of your empathy, strength or professional competence. People respond differently to difficult work and caring roles. Thoughts such as “It did not happen to me” or “Others have it worse” can make it harder to ask for help, but your own needs deserve attention too.

Changes you might notice

You might notice it in the form of nightmares or intrusive images from what you have heard. There can be a loss of trust, a feeling of being unsafe in everyday circumstances, or a preoccupation with injustice. Some withdraw from the people they love or become detached from their work, while others are hard on themselves or those around them. Guilt over not doing enough and a certain shame at being moved by another's pain are also common.

Vicarious trauma and burnout are not identical

Then there is the matter of burnout. While burnout is usually tied to the grind of the job – the workload, the lack of rest, systems that get in the way of good work – vicarious trauma is more about the internal toll of exposure. In practice they often occur together. A helper who is fed painful material all day with no time to recover is in a vulnerable position.

Boundaries and support

Personal history can make some stories hit home harder, which does not disqualify you from helping but means you need structure as much as empathy. Good boundaries, supervision or therapy may be called for. Boundaries are not to be confused with coldness; they are what make it possible to keep on caring. It could be a matter of not poring over distressing files late at night, or understanding your role and not making yourself the only person someone can turn to. As a professional, you should view peer consultation and supervision as part of sound, ethical practice, not as some extra indulgence.

For family members and friends, the same principle applies in ordinary language. You can love someone and still need sleep. You can listen and still say, "I want to support you, but I cannot be the only support." You can encourage professional help without abandoning the person. You can help with practical steps rather than absorbing every detail of traumatic material. If there is immediate danger, abuse, coercive control, self-harm risk, or risk to others, the response needs real-time support, not private endurance.

Everyday care and professional help

Ordinary routines, rest, supportive relationships and activities you enjoy may help you look after yourself. Choose what fits; there is no exercise you have to complete. These steps cannot put right an unsafe workplace or replace professional care. The VA provider self-care guidance discusses social support, supervision and making room for your own needs.

Then there is psychotherapy. It has its place when vicarious trauma has affected your inner world. A therapist can help you process what you have been hearing, put boundaries in place without it feeling like a betrayal, or re-establish your values. If another person's trauma has stirred up something from your own past, therapy can help in working through those feelings.

Workplaces have responsibilities too

Organisations bear responsibility as well. You cannot simply tell your staff to be resilient and then put them in front of traumatic material with no training, supervision or time to recover. While vicarious trauma is personal, systems have a way of shaping it. Proper practice means having a culture where one can speak up before becoming overwhelmed, clear ways to escalate issues, trauma-informed leadership and caseloads that are actually manageable.

When to ask for help

It may help to notice what has changed: sleep, patience, trust, enjoyment, concentration or the ability to leave work behind. Such observations cannot diagnose a condition. They can provide a starting point for a conversation with a supervisor, GP or qualified mental health professional, especially if changes persist or affect daily life.

Seek help if you are having intrusive images, persistent sleep problems, emotional numbness, panic, increased alcohol or substance use, hopelessness, thoughts of self-harm, or difficulty functioning. In Ireland, if you or someone else is in immediate danger, contact 112 or 999 or go to an emergency department. Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 for confidential listening support.

Vicarious trauma is a reminder that human beings are permeable. We are affected by what we witness and by what others trust us with. The aim is not to become untouched. The aim is to stay human while also staying supported, bounded and alive to more than trauma.

Sources and review

Sources and clinical wording checked 7 October 2026. This is general educational information, not an assessment, treatment programme or substitute for professional support. The original research below describes the concept; current provider guidance informs the practical support routes.

VA National Center for PTSD: social support and provider self-care · Provider self-care toolkit

General educational information, not a substitute for assessment, treatment or emergency care. In immediate danger, call 112 / 999 in Ireland or local emergency services elsewhere. Full disclaimer.

Vicarious Trauma: Signs, Boundaries and Support for Helpers