Secondary Traumatic Stress
Secondary Traumatic Stress
Secondary traumatic stress is psychological distress resulting from indirect exposure to another person's traumatic experience, often through hearing or witnessing their trauma.
Details
Secondary Traumatic Stress
Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) refers to trauma-related symptoms that emerge from indirect exposure to others' traumatic experiences — through listening, witnessing, or being close to someone who has been traumatized.
It commonly affects caregiving professionals such as therapists, social workers, nurses, and first responders, but can also impact family members and close friends of trauma survivors.
Symptoms mirror those of PTSD: intrusive thoughts, avoidance, hyperarousal, and negative shifts in worldview.
Important to Know
Experiencing STS does not mean you are weak — it means you care deeply. Recognizing it is the first and most important step toward healing.
Mindy is here for you too. It's okay to need support while you support others.
💡 Real-Life Example
A trauma therapist beginning to have nightmares about clients' stories and losing interest in activities they once enjoyed.
This content is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical diagnosis.