How can you ensure that your response to a critical incident is sensitive and trauma-informed?

As a trauma therapist, I learned first hand that even people who are not directly involved in the critical event can suffer with symptoms of trauma. This is what’s called vicarious or secondary trauma. Vicarious trauma happens when someone, who is indirectly connected to the traumatic event, starts to experience symptoms of trauma. This is important to know if a critical incident takes place because even those who are not directly affected may have anxiety, panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, hypervigilance, and difficulty regulating their emotions. If we don’t prepare employees for this possibility they can be blind sided by their reaction to the situation and blame themselves unnecessarily, resulting in even more anxiety.

A few thoughts I've learned based on my 15 years combatting sexual exploitation, though I'm not on the frontlines! First and foremost, ensure that those affected by the incident feel physically and emotionally safe. It's crucial to communicate clearly and consistently about the steps being taken to secure their safety and what they can expect moving forward. Trauma often leaves us feeling powerless. Empower those affected by giving them control over their own recovery process. Offer choices wherever possible, and involve them in decisions affecting their well-being. This helps to restore a sense of autonomy and respect for their needs and boundaries. Approach with empathy, avoiding judgment, and providing compassionate support.

Best practice is to work within your scope of practice. Ensure the space is comfortable and safe, for you and your person, be respectful in your communication, utilise empathic skills, active listening, paraphasing, encourage deep rhythmic breathing, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth, demonstrate and breath with the person. Monitor persons breathing, skin pallor, agitation, escalate if necessary.

This happened to me when I experienced loss with panic attacks and severe stress for years to come. Mental health is critical, so I’m always happy to share and support this as lisa has a ripple effect. #breakthesilence

In my experience it is better to stick with the training guidelines I received in training. Using the explanatory documentation to stick to the facts works. Always reminding those involved that their reaction is a normal one to an abnormal situation. And empathy above everything else always. Noreen Coomey Group Crisis Intervention from University of Maryland. noreencoomey.com

"self-care" has become a buzz word in the past couple of years, and is often associated with acts of pampering one's self or having a nice meal or some quiet down time. I believe self care involves knowing a full bodied "yes" and a full bodied "no". By knowing our internal visceral reactions to our surroundings and people we come in contact with, we learn to explore the world with a sense of self agency and awareness. Its like and internal barometer that measures one's level of comfort and discomfort, creating room for exploring and expressing one's boundaries. In my perspective, recreation of healthy boundaries for traumatized clients is vital to facilitate healing.

Focus on the emotions experienced, not the logical flow of events. Memory can be hazy, leading to additional anxiety about any gaps that come up.

In my experience some of the most engaged and empathetic leaders stop devoting time to themselves to eat, sleep, and engage with the beauty they enjoy in life. Why? Because as change-driven and impactful leaders, the work MUST BE DONE. We need to begin with realizing that there are many people lifting the burden of societal problems, and our component does need to have boundaries in place. Saying, "No" to the things we don't want to do is a great first step. It's not easy, and it will make our skin itchy, but we have to stop agreeing to things we don't want to do. Healthy boundaries allows us to regain focus on our own needs, wants and desires.

It's important to realize that 1) what self-care looks like or means can be very different for different people and 2) the ability to be able to practice self-care will also vary greatly, depending on the person and the situation. If you are on the management end of dealing with a situation then I would strongly encourage you or your team to check in with each individual directly involved (to start with; you can expand the net a bit later) and find out what they feel they need. Don't assume what that would be. Offering services or care from a limited menu that you've been told is the accepted or normal options is likely going to result in people not getting what they need and perhaps feeling unheard and misunderstood. Maybe even frustrated.

Praticando o autocuidado: Seja gentil consigo mesmo. Falar para si mesmo de maneira bondosa e compreensiva, como faria com o outro. Aceite os seus erros e imperfeições. Todos cometemos erros e temos imperfeições. Pratique a gratidão. Ao se concentrar nas coisas pelas quais você é grato, pode ser mais fácil deixar de lado os sentimentos de culpa. Perdoe a si mesmo. É importante lembrar que todos cometemos erros e que é possível aprender com eles e seguir em frente. Busque apoio. Falar sobre os seus sentimentos com um amigo ou familiar de confiança ou procurar ajuda profissional, como um psicólogo, pode ser uma ótima maneira de obter apoio e perspectiva.

Asking for support can be extremely vulnerable. However being in solitude can be all the more detrimental. There is a plethora of studies that prove that COMMUNITY is vital in the full recovery of a recovering addict. This is because a community that shares a similar perspectives allows room for collective compassion and empathy building. There is resonance because of having gone through similar situations. When we seek support, we give others the chance to empower us in times of weakness!! Remember you can be of service and be the person in need of help. In both scenarios compassion is extremely crucial to ensure that there is no minimization of pain or trauma.

As a society we have moved away from community and more towards individualism. Where we were once surrounded by others, we now deal with things in a lonely and isolated way. Often people don’t recognise your need for support. Or they are overwhelmed by their own crisis and are unable to give support. Or they are afraid of facing your trauma for fear of being incapable or triggered. Don’t spend your energy being angry at people who are meant to help you. Focus your energy inwards. Be kind to yourself, look at the people who do care. ASK for help. Give people practical tasks to help you… “please call my manager and tell them what happened”; “can you get bread and milk for me?”; “can you look after my kids so I can rest!”

I look at seeking support in a couple different ways. 1. We must learn to ask for help. Feel weird and vulnerable, but silence leads to shame and shame can kill. I use the phrase, "I am struggling now with XYZ. I could really use your perspective. Would you have time to chat this week?" 2. I then confirm the agreed upon time with a calendar reminder (after asking if it's ok to send an invite). 3. When done I follow up with a handwritten thank you note or personalized thank you from Blue Mountain Card app. When someone comes to me and begins a discussion requesting help, I say, "I want to show up being what you need. Do you want my perspective or just to listen." This way we can set a pathway for successful interactions.

Support is hard to ask for, I like to step back and observe others, watch their behaviours, reactions and emotions. I like to listen and feel what another person is saying. Offering support and asking for support are very different kettles of fish. Sometimes it makes the biggest difference to a person when someone else “notices” they may need support and offers over their help in an altruistic way. That alone, can be the gateway to their recovery. This in turn can also help support your own mental health as you are giving, loving supporting and caring. It releases the feel good endorphins.

Demander de l'aide est un acte qui demande beaucoup de courage quand on a été conditionné à donner plutôt qu'à recevoir comme la plupart d'entre nous. La vision que l'on a de soi quand on est traumatisé est détérioré et comme la personne est dans une position de faiblesse, elle est aussi susceptible de se faire abuser ce qui rend sa situation encore plus compliquée. Il y a souvent un sentiment de honte et de faiblesse derrière tout ça. La peur de déranger, l'orgueil, la méconnaissance des ressources disponibles, la fuite et le déni des ressentis, la peur de souffrir encore plus en regardant ce qu'on fuit et la peur de perdre la contrôle alors, tout ça peut engendrer une attitude d'avitement pour demander de l'aide.

Ich habe leider auch festgestellt, dass respektvoller Umgang miteinander Propagiert wird, nur die Umsetzung klappt manchmal nicht. Als Führungskraft pflege ich einen respektvollen Umgang mit meinen Mitarbeitenden. Es wird auch entsprechend honoriert. Leider ist der Umgang zwischen den Mitarbeitenden nicht immer respektvoll. Mein erster Ansatz ist da immer: miteinander reden und nicht übereinander. Gerade die Anerkennung einer Leistung fällt dem ein oder anderen manchmal schwer. Dabei schweißt gerade sowas zusammen und hilft in schwierigen Situationen sich richtig zu unterstützen, den Nebeneffekt eines besseren Betriebsklimas nicht zu vergessen.

It is crucial to recognize that everyone carries their own set of experiences and traumas. Being respectful means understanding and acknowledging those differences, and responding with compassion and empathy, even when we may not fully comprehend someone else's perspective.

Being respectful is to practice cultural humility, treat everyone in an authentic sincere manner. When approaching someone after a critical incident introduce yourself, ask permission to come into the room, or to sit down. Understanding, that everyone responds to trauma differently, not to make assumptions or take control.

Là encore, la manière de respecter une personne est différente selon la culture et le vécu de chacun. Poser un cadre dès le départ et le respecter permet au thérapeute comme au client d'éviter toute déviance. Ensuite la clarté et l'écoute, la reformulation de ce que le thérapeute a compris des parôles et expériences de la personne, le tout sans faire d'interprêtation ni émettre de jugement, permet à rester aligné et assurera une base solide pour l'accompagnement à mon sens.

I have learned that often clients don't realize what they are experiencing is trauma. Psychoeducation is critical. A lot of the populations I served do not recognize their experiences as traumatic. Some don't even understand that they have been triggered, or are in denial of their trauma. When I encounter this, I work specifically on the somatic components, and ask inquisitively about their somatic components with empathy. "It must be frustrating, that you have had this headache so long and the doctors can't figure out what is going on. I can only imagine how challenging it can be when all of the test come back fine but you still feel bad. I can't imagine what you are going through. Can you remember a time when you didn't feel like this?"

Understanding that traumatic experience can impact on all aspects of life, of body and mind, can make sense of reactions and feelings that seem not to be anchored to the present moment. Let these feelings come, and flow away again. Don;t try to analyse them or you can hold on to them which continues their impact on you

The somatic and psychological defenses held by a traumatized individual have helped them survive thus far into life!! it is extremely vital to honor and thank them for their service. The study of traumatology often speaks to the "defense cascade" when working with traumatized clients, I think its Important to psycho-educate them so that they can cognitively understand why their body reacts the way it does. Learning about one's symptomatic experience and be both validating and too much for a client. Discernment is thereby ESSENTIAL and depends on individual process.

I have found that trauma from childhood resonates into adulthood through every vein and vessel in the mind, body and soul. The inner child has been hurt so bad it creates defence mechanisms to block that pain and protect oneself. Of course that is a necessity The down side is when you get “stuck”. It stops you growing and moving forward in your life as a positive, happy person. Everyone has different reactions and defences so each journey will be unique. I have found learning to work with your hurt inner child, to forgive them , to love them, to be kind to the little you, through therapy and meditation is an amazing experience to consider and great starting point to find a happier, healthier you.

La résilience nait de la compréhension des expériences vécues et de la manière dont on va les transformer pour en faire des forces. La vie est un véritable apprentissage en soi. J'aime à dire qu'il y a ce qui est et ce qu'on en fait. Chacun est libre de faire de ses expériences des échecs ou des opportunités pour grandir.

I have been noticing more and more lately, that in the world of supposedly being trauma-informed there are actually individuals who judge a person's story with the viewpoint of, "Well, I experienced the same thing and I didn't handle it THAT way." WHOA! Full stop. As leaders we MUST realize that trauma shows up differently even with similar events or experiences. We have to stop the normalization of violent words and reactions to people when they share their most intimate moments of truth. This looks like consistently recognizing the differences of people within similar experiences, and leaving our own judgements at the door- especially when the trauma experiences is very similar to our own.