When, trauma happens the body and psyche have certain responses that come into play to protect you. Over time these normal responses subside and you can return to daily work and routine. However, in about 10% of cases people cannot return to their normal daily routine. Various symptoms that emerged at the time of trauma are still happening. These people may need external professional psychological support. Everyone is different and the support you need to get over an incident varies.

Counselling offered by the Newport Council is delivered free of charge by the Welsh Psychotherapy Partnership. You will be able to meet a counsellor who is qualified and vetted by your employer. They will offer you a confidential service. You will be invited to meet them and talk freely about how the incident has affected you. By talking it through you can explore the reasons behind the symptoms. You an the counsellor will develop a plan of self care over a number of weeks to help you feel better and return to the work, feeling supported and safe.

Some people think it is failure or that they are wrong to ask for this type of help. However, actively seeking support and solutions is modelling responsibility and is actively encouraged by your employer. This can also prevents your loved ones and work colleagues from reliving the trauma with you.

For more information on the Symptoms of Traumatic Stress and what to do, please see our other fact sheets and look on your card of what to do next.

If you work for Newport Health and Wellbeing Department you can receive counselling by contacting us on the number given on your card.

If not please contact us on 02920 396998 or email us at admin@welshpsychotherapy.org.uk

Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder

The helping professions are experiencing increasing problems with stress, leading to increased time off sick escalating work tension and employee dissatisfaction. One such problem is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD can directly affect some professionals who experience trauma in their daily working lives. This has been recognised for a long time and many services like the Fire Brigade, Police, Ambulance drivers, Armed force members, have access to psychological support to address these issues. For other professionals the concern is secondary PTSD sometimes known as STSD. This quick guide is to help raise awareness in your organisation. If you think someone in your team needs support with these issues please contact WPP for further information.

What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

The term post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) describes a range of psychological symptoms people may experience following a traumatic event or series of events, which is outside the normal human experience. The World Health Organisation has defined it as: ‘A delayed or protracted response to a stressful event or situation (either short or long-lasting) of an exceptionally threatening or long-lasting nature, which is likely to cause pervasive distress in almost anyone.’ The research now demonstrates chronic long-term situations like those associated with childhood abuse or domestic violence can also lead to PTSD.

The Symptoms and Characteristics of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Recurrent and persistent recollections of the traumatic event.

Recurrent dreams of the event.

Acting or feeling as if the traumatic event is happening all over again.

Intense distress related to internal or external events that remind one of the traumatic occurrences.

Efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings, or conversations associated with the trauma.

Efforts to avoid activities, places, or people that might be associated with the trauma.

An inability to remember important aspects of the traumatic event.

Decreased interest or participation in certain activities.

Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others.

The inability to have certain feelings.

A sense that time is short, and there is no future.

Difficulty falling and/or staying asleep.

Irritability or angry outbursts.

Difficulty concentrating.

Hyper-vigilance.

If you or someone you know is experiencing such symptoms contacts us, we can help!

Vicarious or Secondary Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (STSD)

Who is at risk from STSD?

In the main there are two groups, those who live with trauma victims and helping professionals who spend a lot of time listening to traumatic stories of the people’s pain.

Living with an individual with PSTD does not automatically cause STSD but it can produce it. Research presently does not identify why some people develop STSD and some do not.

Symptoms of Secondary Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Many of symptoms of PSTD including flashbacks and memory problems
Experiencing unusually strong feelings of rage, sadness, terror, and vulnerability in every day circumstances.
Sleeping problems
Inability to work in a team
‘Compassion fatigue’ – do not want to hear any more horror stories
Own relationship and intimate relations declining
Tiredness that never goes away
Taking days off work when don’t feel well but don’t feel ill either
Loss of clear thinking in work
Loss of sense of humour
Burnout

STSD, Compassion Fatigue, Survivor Guilt, Burnout – How do we prevent it? How do we intervene? How do we cope?
Above all, be aware. The signs are often very clear to see, but in the helping professions we are notorious for seeing problems in others and not in ourselves. The answer is either individually or as a team to put it on the agenda! Talk about it. Too often workers, who are human beings with caring professional skills, engage their emotional and sensitive side in work. This enables them to be motivated but they need a self- care plan in place. Sometimes we lose sight of the simple strategies we already know but when these are not enough WPP can help to build a self-care toolbox, which puts the worker back in control!

HELEN ARE MEL ARE MEMBERS OF THE REGISTER OF TRAUMA SPECIALISTS

Page Updated: 26/06/2009