Someone Who Retraumatizes Another Over and Over Again

When somebody experiences a traumatic event, they're oftentimes supported by people in social piece of work, legal and clinical contexts who ask them repeatedly to recount their personal stories.

This retelling of these events can exacerbate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and potentially re-traumatize the person. How can people avoid contributing to re-traumatization during conversations inside and outside of clinical settings?

Damir Southward. Utrzan, PhD, MS, LMFT, says it simply depends on a person's private experience and journey through the healing procedure.

Utrzan, the handling director of an Intensive Residential Treatment Services facility operated past the Minnesota Department of Human Services, explained how anyone can use a social worker'southward mindset to exist mindful of re-traumatization when interacting with others.

What Is Re-traumatization?

Re-traumatization occurs when a person re-experiences a previously traumatic event, either consciously or unconsciously. This tin be caused by stressors that are like to the environment or circumstance of the original trauma, such as smell, physical infinite, lighting, imagery, memory, or fifty-fifty a new human relationship that mimics a previously traumatic one.

"The more people get away from their feel, the less they may think about it regularly," Utrzan said. "But they might exist triggered by sure events, similar visiting a primary health care provider, which can thrust them fully back into the feel."

Re-traumatization can happen to anyone who has experienced a traumatic event. This includes people who may have adult or been at take chances of developing PTSD, including:

• Refugees and asylum seekers.
• People who have experienced sexual abuse, domestic violence or homo trafficking.
• Students who have experienced mass shootings.
• People who have been incarcerated.
• Veterans or active-duty military service members who have survived combat.
• People who have witnessed other forms of interpersonal or mass violence.

Even if it's been years since the traumatic event occurred, symptoms tin resurface of a sudden or periodically if the person is exposed to reminders of the original outcome. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, symptoms of re-traumatization (PDF, ii.3 MB) may vary from person to person only by and large include one or more than of the following:

Symptoms of Trauma or Re-traumatization

• Flashbacks and nightmares
• Anxiousness or fear
• Difficulty concentrating
• Trouble sleeping
• Fatigue
• Social isolation and avoidance
• Overall intense negative emotions
• Inability to control emotions
• Potent physical reactions to triggers

"The government will use inconsistencies in narratives every bit proof that it didn't happen," Utrzan said. "Just clinicians know that information technology's a clear symptom of re-traumatization."

Re-traumatization may also manifest differently across the lifespan. Children who are exposed to traumatic experiences may be affected by re-traumatization for the balance of their lives, explained Utrzan.

"Trauma physiologically changes your brain structure," Utrzan said. "It makes changes that are difficult to disengage. So, if yous spend the majority of childhood living in fear, that leads to generalized anxiety, which is hard to manage without medication."

When Can Re-traumatization Happen?

Symptoms of re-traumatization can arise whenever someone is thinking about the event, even if they haven't been prompted to think about it, and so avoiding the chat won't necessarily preclude re-traumatization. Nonetheless, there are a few situations that tin can set off stressors (PDF, 81 KB), co-ordinate to the Anna Institute:

• Evaluations from clinicians or providers in which they inquire a customer to retell a story near a traumatic experience.
• Interviews with reporters or journalists who are covering traumatic events.
• Conversations with friends and family members who want to provide support in the aftermath of a traumatic effect.
• Discussions in which emotional boundaries are non respected or people are fabricated to feel like they aren't existence believed.
• Situations in which people are asked to undress or change wearing apparel in front of other people
• Situations where concrete restraints or isolation are used as a means of command during a conversation.
• Anniversaries of traumatic events.
• Retelling of similar traumatic stories, either in the news or entertainment media.

"It's a paradox," Utrzan said, "because most people who have experienced a trauma are thinking virtually information technology all the time."

When talking to a trauma survivor, he said it'south important to remember the purpose of the conversation or evaluation; try non to deviate from that purpose if possible. Utrzan said that two places where re-traumatization can occur are clinical and forensic evaluations.

Clinical evaluation

• Purpose is to better understand a person's physiological needs while providing care with a nurturing bedside manner.
• May expose the person to triggers, such concrete contact during exams.

Forensic evaluation

• Purpose is usually to gather evidence or triangulate information that tin be used to support evidence in a legal proceeding.
• Less likely to include bedside manner or nurturing intendance.

"In a forensic setting, I'k non there to heal them," Utrzan said. "But I have to exist careful to not put [them] dorsum into the physiological realm of their traumatic feel. I'm nonetheless responsible for making sure they're safe."

A holistic mindset tin benefit professionals during all types of evaluations, too as in more casual conversations nigh a person'due south day-to-day life.

A holistic assessment is a comprehensive evaluation that acknowledges the relationship of a person to their concrete and social environment. The following components contribute to a person'due south overall well-being:

• Personal: a person'south recollection of their own life, in their own words, without interruption.
• Physiological: biological and concrete needs, chronic conditions, sexual action and history, substance use.
• Sociological: family history, demographic data.
• Psychological: mental health, emotional well-existence, clinical personality or mood disorders.
• Cultural: values and customs based on nationality, ethnicity or race.
• Spiritual: religious and other faith-based practices, values and customs.
• Legal: criminal, civil and clearing files.

While every provider may not accept time to ask questions well-nigh each of these aspects in a 1-on-i chat, it's of import to recognize that these variables may contribute to a person'southward overall nature and needs.

"Social workers have unique skills," Utrzan said. "They address a client'due south physical needs [and] mental health needs, merely also their basic needs."

Building a network of resource to help people run into their bones needs is a crucial part of holistic care.

How to Be Mindful of Re-traumatization

People in all professions can pull from the ecological model of social work to address a person'southward relationship with their environment, which values the physical and social environment of a person'due south life in add-on to their inner processes, family unit life and function within their surround.

Utrzan said building trust with a client starts with having a chat, "genuinely learning and wanting to understand who they are."

In conversations inside and beyond clinical walls, it's important to be mindful of behaviors or questions that could exacerbate re-traumatization and know where to observe additional help if needed.

Viii Tips for Mitigating Re-traumatization

Avoid SCHEDULING EXTENSIVE INTERVIEWS

Asking questions may accept several hours, but one time an interviewee has felt re-traumatized, they need time to recover and heal earlier proceeding. Try scheduling shorter conversations that take place over several days.

Found ROUTINE

For recurring conversations most the same topic or in the same physical space, create a routine to provide safety and familiarity.

Place POTENTIAL TRIGGERS

Have the other person describe or write out things that make them feel safe and unsafe.

PRIORITIZE CONSENT

When possible, allow the other person know they don't accept to answer questions that make them feel uncomfortable or upset.

Go on AN Open up MIND

Avert making assumptions or skipping through questions yous may think you know the answer to. Empathize that this may be the first fourth dimension the other person is sharing their story.

MAKE SPACE TO RELAX

Try using breathing or mindfulness exercises to calm symptoms of trauma when they arise. Permit others know how to use these exercises on their ain when they feel unsafe at other times in their lives.

Be TRANSPARENT

Some evaluations require concrete examinations or contact betwixt both parties. Enquire for permission earlier touching some other person and explain every activeness before performing it.

Have RESOURCES AVAILABLE

Be familiar with hotlines or text lines that trauma survivors can easily contact, such as the Crisis Text Line. Discover out what organizations exist within your community, or come across beneath for a list of national and international groups.

Utrzan said that ii of the well-nigh important things to recollect during this process is to brand sure people experience believed and to enquire them how they want to be helped. They know themselves best.

"Make the effort to sympathize yourself," he said. "You lot want to avoid secondary trauma and establish a day-to-day practice of conscientiousness."

Find Out More Information About Re-traumatization

Many national organizations exist for survivors of various traumas and have resources for people in social work and clinical-, legal- and advocacy-related professions.

Additional sources:

• International Rescue Committee
• PTSD Alliance
• International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
• Crisis Text Line
• Anxiety and Depression Association of America
• Refugee Council The states
• U.South. Department of State: Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration
• Center for Victims of Torture
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Are you lot interested in working with survivors of trauma? Acquire more about how to become a licensed clinical social worker or review online clinical social work programs.

This article is for advisory purposes. If you lot or somebody you lot know may exist experiencing the effects of re-traumatization, please consult a medical provider or mental health practitioner.

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Source: https://www.onlinemswprograms.com/resources/how-to-be-mindful-re-traumatization/

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