It is surprising to find that so many of us deal with traumatic events. Vicarious trauma describes the adverse effects felt by an individual due to consistently expressed exposure to reported traumatic accounts. What is noteworthy in the case of individuals in helping professions is that they statistically may find themselves dealing with their trauma from their own experiences. Combined with the potential of vicarious trauma through their work, these professionals may be vulnerable to being “sandwiched” between unique sources of stress.

Self-care is critical to long-term success, not just as a helping professional but as an individual confronted with varying forms of trauma from multiple fronts. Helping professionals are not superhuman and thus cannot expect to sustain themselves under the weight of their own life’s issues and the issues of those who, by the necessity of the relationship, are inclined to unburden themselves with what they feel weighs heaviest on them. If any person in any walk of life is to prioritize self-care, I argue it must be someone who makes helping others their profession.

I believe I may be vulnerable to characteristics of vicarious trauma. There are two strategies that I may employ. It can be said that the inclination to dive into a helping profession with the hopes of resolving every issue is a foray into the most fatiguing aspects of the job. Your profession is not all that you are. I will have to remind myself of this. I can do so by actively spending my time with my family. I am not on an island.

I can also focus on my physical health. I tend to have a better overall outlook when consistently lifting weights.