Secondary Traumatic Stress

Understanding Secondary Traumatic Stress
Field of Traumatology (the study of individuals who experience trauma) have achieved rapid development in recent decades (Figley, 1995). One contribution is increasing awareness that a person will experience a severe psychological impact when experiencing traumatic events. Therefore, in 1980, the American Psychiatric Association published the diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (Third Edition) (DSM-III). Diagnosis is seen symptoms are commonly experienced by individuals who experienced trauma as a psychiatric disorder. PTSD represents how dangerous the biopsychosocial effects of traumatic experiences.

The concept of PTSD encourage research in the field of Traumatology. Of the hundreds of studies reported that individuals were classified as experiencing trauma is not just a victim of trauma itself (Victims) but also includes those who are indirectly exposed to trauma (Pickett, 1998). Or in other words, individuals may experience trauma without having to physically deal with the traumatic event or a direct threat of danger. In addition, just by hearing about traumatic events and even then may have the potential to bring the traumatic conditions. Not only is the family of someone who experienced trauma are vulnerable to secondary trauma, but also mental health workers and others who want to help victims (Figley, 1995).

Charles R.Figley and B.Hudnall Stamm (Stamm, 1999), who worked with clients in a Trauma Center trauma, knowing the negative effects experienced by the counselor. This effect would appear as a counselor in an effort to give attention to and empathize with clients as well as a strong incentive to help the client. According to Figley and Stamm (in Stamm, 1999), a trauma counselor can come experience some symptoms similar to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are owned by their clients. Figley (in Richardson, 2001) defines this situation with Secondary Traumatic Stress (hereinafter referred to as STS), which is something that happens naturally, is a behavioral and emotional consequences as a result of knowledge about a traumatic event experienced by a significant other. The term 'secondary' refers to the fact that the trauma experienced by others, but later joined the party experienced by observing, assisting, or listen to his story (Sidabutar, 2003). Figley (1995) also refer to this condition as "Catastrophic secondary reaction to stress", which means that empathy for other people's experiences produce emotional strain (such as sadness, anger, etc.). This is the "price" of giving attention, care, and assistance to individuals who experience trauma.

The phenomenon of the STS is also associated with the "cost of caring" to the emotional suffering of others (Figley in Rudolph, Stamm, danStamm, 1997). The existence of a deep feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the suffering of others, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate their suffering and eliminating the causes easily cause a person to experience the STS (Joinson, in Stamm, 1999).

Based on the above definition, then the STS is a term used to describe the disorder or psychological pain that developed in the mental health professionals who work with traumatized clients (Chrestman in Stamm, 1999). Although STS is a natural consequence due to a person assisting others who experience trauma, but of course the consequences of this may cause a very severe stress.

Impact of Secondary Traumatic Stress
Researchers have compared the effects of trauma on the client's mental health workers with symptoms of PTSD (Conrad and Perry in Hesse, 2002). They agreed that working with traumatized clients have an inevitable effect, disturbing, and long-term therapist, and that this reaction may have occurred regardless of race, gender, age, and level of expertise or professional person (Edelwichdan Brodsky, in Hesse, 2002). Some researchers believe that the STS generated from the exposure of the traumatic experiences suffered by others. Figley and Stamm (Stamm, 1999) view that the experience of working with traumatized clients can change themselves a counselor or therapist for the better or for worse. As such, traumatic events and experiences also affect the client's personal life counselor.

According to Beaton and Murphy (in Cornille, 1999), individuals who experienced STS generally show symptoms similar to PTSD include:

•     Sleep disturbance
•     Anger
•     An intense fear
•     Memory disorders
•     Sensitive
•     Anxious
•     Suppress certain emotions
•     Nightmare
•     Loss of control
•     Depression
•     The tendency to commit suicide

Furthermore, the effect of STS itself will interfere with the function of individual professionals. Yassen (in Richardson, 2001) describes the impact of STS on the function of the individual professional as can be seen through the following table.

STS impact on individual professionalism

display of work	Moral	Interpersonal	behavior
Decline in the quality and quantity of work lack of motivation avoid the task Many make the mistake Perfect labor standards Obsession with detail	Lack of confidence loss of interest Pain is not satisfied negative attitudes apathy keeping a distance was empty	Shy away from co-workers Can not wait Decline in the quality of relationships difficult to communicate Easily conflict with colleagues	Frequently absent from work tired irritability not responsible Overwork Frequently change jobs

(Yassen, in Richardson 2001)

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