The Professional Impact of Vicarious Trauma

JOB TASKS: Decrease in quality and quantity, lower motivation, increased mistakes.

MORALE: Loss of interests, dissatisfaction with assignments, negative attitudes, apathy, detachment, decrease in confidence.

INTERPERSONAL: Withdrawal form colleagues, poor communication, staff conflicts, blaming, and impatience.

BEHAVIORAL: Absenteeism, irritability, overworking, irresponsibility, tardiness, poor judgment, frequent threats to resign or quit, changes in routine, absent mindedness, accident prone, self-destructive coping behaviors (food, money, gambling, shopping, drugs).

PHYSICAL: Loss of sleep, change in appetite, increase alcohol consumption, impaired immune system.

EMOTIONAL: Anxiety, guilt, irritability, anger, rage, depression, sadness. Loss of empathy, hopelessness, grief and emotional roller-coaster rides.

COGNITIVE: Lack of concentration, loss of focus, rigidity, self-doubt,perfectionism, difficulty making decisions.

REALTIONAL (INTERPERSONAL): Mistrust, withdrawal, intolerance, confusion and impaired thinking.

WORLD VIEW (SPIRITUAL): Work place frustration, sense of unfairness and lack of support, blaming and misplaced anger.