Symptoms of secondhand trauma look a lot like regular trauma, except you were not directly impacted:
- grief and sadness brought on by the experiences
- isolation, lack of appetite, insomnia
- increased anxiety

As all of these are linked to mental health, you can also experience somatic symptoms like heart palpitations, soreness in the body, increased likelihood of illness, headaches, exhaustion.

Reminder: burnout and compassion fatigue happen over time. It could take months or years (I've done social work for 2 years + 2 years internships and I have yet to feel true compassion fatigue). It probably isn't happening to you after a week. But it could happen over time.

Prevention! Looks different for everyone. Examples on things you can do for yourself:
- meditation
- therapy
- grounding techniques
- self care (more on this)
- turning off social media/news for a bit
- limiting advocacy time (this includes posting about it)

Self care is extremely important but A LOT of people are not properly informed on what it really is.

What I like to tell my clients is that self care is taking care of your past self, your present self, and your future self. It is NOT spending your rent or bill money on clothes.

You can treat yourself, but if you are digging too deeply into your finances, bingeing on substances, or causing harm in any way to yourself, YOU ARE NOT CARING FOR YOURSELF.

COPING MECHANISMS ARE NOT (ALWAYS) SELF CARE.

I am not saying "don't drink, don't spend money, don't go on vacation." I'm a harm reductionist, so I understand coping mechanisms. We need coping mechanisms to survive.

However, if an activity is hurting you in any way, it is not true self care.

Buy something you can afford today and in a month and in a year. Drink what you want when you want. Partake in substances as need be if it helps you calm down.

Using up all your rent money to go drinking though? Is something that needs to be addressed.

In terms of therapy, it's not for everyone. I do therapy with my clients, and I have gone to therapy myself. There are MANY different kinds of therapists out there with different practices, modalities, and techniques. You have to go to one that is right for you.

WOW This got long and I don't even know what else to add uh.

Any suggestions? Questions? Comments?

I will say though that you need to be careful about unloading onto your friends and family. You also need to be careful about taking on the unloadings of other people. You have a right to yourself and responsibility over your own mental health.

However, you CANNOT and SHOULD NOT constantly listen to others' grievances while dealing with your own. It will burn you out so fast and you will experience compassion fatigue over time. I do not advocate 24/7 online because I advocate as a full-time job. I am protecting myself.

A lot of people went meme over the "I am not mentally available blah blah" thing which was kind of rude because you need to advocate for yourself in that way. Tell people "Hey, I'm sorry but I'm really tired right now." And also, be understanding when someone says this to you.

Starting to ramble but at this time, PLEASE:
- Eat regularly. Schedule your meals and set alarms so you eat properly throughout the day.
- Sleep. You need to try and sleep as much as possible when it's possible.
- Turn off the news.
- Stay connected to people you trust.

I said it already but I am a social worker who also does therapy. So the things I'm saying are based on my experience and things I learn through work trainings and from coworkers.

I don't like to talk about my personal job but it's kinda important right now.

I muted this thread but I'm still checking for replies in case I can answer any questions. Thank you all for sharing and stay safe and healthy!