Healing Vicarious Trauma in Healthcare with Havening Techniques®
Healthcare professionals often dedicate their lives to the service of others, providing care and compassion to those in need. However, this noble profession can come with emotional and psychological costs, including a condition known as vicarious trauma. This blog explores what vicarious trauma is, how it affects healthcare professionals, the physiological mechanisms behind it, and how the Havening Technique® can provide relief and healing.
What is Vicarious Trauma?
Vicarious trauma, also referred to as secondary trauma, occurs when individuals absorb and internalize the emotional pain, suffering, and trauma of others. For healthcare professionals, repeated exposure to patients’ traumatic stories or distressing events can take a toll, leading to profound emotional and psychological changes. Unlike burnout, which is often tied to workload and systemic pressures, vicarious trauma is specifically linked to the empathetic engagement with trauma survivors.
How Vicarious Trauma Affects the Brain and Body
When healthcare professionals encounter trauma—whether directly or through their patients—it activates the brain’s survival mechanisms. The amygdala, the brain’s alarm system, perceives the emotional pain of others as a threat, initiating a cascade of stress responses.
Physiological Responses:
Hyperarousal of the Sympathetic Nervous System: The brain releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, preparing the body for “fight, flight, or freeze.”
Memory Encoding in the Amygdala: The traumatic experiences of others can become encoded as “trauma memories,” even if the healthcare professional did not experience the event themselves.
Chronic Stress Impacts: Over time, prolonged exposure to these stressors can alter the brain’s ability to regulate emotions and activate the HPA axis (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis), leading to exhaustion and dysregulation.
Symptoms of Vicarious Trauma
Healthcare professionals with vicarious trauma may experience a wide range of symptoms, including:
Emotional Symptoms:
Feelings of helplessness, sadness, or overwhelm
Emotional numbness or detachment
Increased irritability or anger
Physical Symptoms:
Fatigue and sleep disturbances
Chronic headaches or muscle tension
Cognitive Symptoms:
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Intrusive thoughts related to patients’ trauma
Negative changes in worldview (e.g., increased cynicism or loss of hope)
Behavioral Symptoms:
Avoidance of patients or situations that might be triggering
Overworking to suppress feelings of guilt or inadequacy
How Havening Can Help: Creating Delta Waves for Healing
The Havening Techniques® are a set of psychosensory methods designed to reduce the impact of trauma on the brain and body. Developed by Dr. Ronald Ruden, Havening leverages the brain’s ability to generate delta waves, which are associated with deep relaxation and healing.
How Havening Works:
The Role of Touch: Gentle, soothing touch on the arms, hands, or face stimulates the release of calming chemicals like serotonin.
Delta Wave Generation: This touch, combined with distraction techniques (e.g., visualization or humming), helps the brain produce delta waves, which are characteristic of restorative brain states seen in deep sleep.
Trauma Encoding Disruption: Delta waves enable the amygdala to “depotentiate” trauma memories, meaning the emotional charge associated with the memory diminishes. This process helps individuals feel more grounded, less reactive, and more resilient.
For more detailed information on the science behind Havening, visit www.havening.org
To book a call click on this link: https://calendly.com/helen-eivers/consultation-call-with-helen
Why Havening is Ideal for Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare professionals often struggle to find time for their own mental health amidst demanding schedules. Havening is a simple, accessible, and non-invasive technique that professionals can use in moments of stress or overwhelm. It can also be integrated into long-term self-care practices to build resilience against vicarious trauma.
Steps to Begin Healing from Vicarious Trauma
Acknowledge Your Experience: Recognizing the symptoms of vicarious trauma is the first step to recovery.
Prioritize Self-Care:
Engage in regular physical activity, mindfulness practices, and supportive social connections.
Explore Havening: Consider incorporating Havening into your self-care routine to address trauma at the physiological level. I can create a bespoke plan for you to make peace with the past and be lighter to enjoy life you truly deserve.
Conclusion
Vicarious trauma is a natural response to the deeply empathetic work healthcare professionals do every day. However, it doesn’t have to define your experience or career. Techniques like Havening offer a powerful way to release the emotional burdens of trauma, restore balance, and build resilience.
If you’re a healthcare professional struggling with the weight of vicarious trauma, I’m here to help. As a trauma and resilience coach, I specialize in guiding individuals through healing processes like Havening and NLP empowering you to thrive both personally and professionally.
Reach out today to begin your journey toward healing and resilience.