PTSD, stress, secondary trauma (vicarious trauma) and compassion fatigue represent a serious problem for people who care for, hear about or witness the intense suffering of others. Ultimately, this can lead to burnout. Several professions are at high risk including physicians, attorneys, nurses, psychologists, counselors, social workers, hospice workers, adult and child protective service workers. Those who care for people in nursing homes and those who care for patients at home are also at risk. Families who care for suffering relatives are particularly vulnerable to these problems. This information outlines 14 steps that can be taken to increase resilience to this form of stress. Two effective approaches are underscored for desensitizing traumatic stress and calming the emotional midbrain. The presentation provides links to information that explains the nature of the problem and offers practical self-help interventions.

1. PTSD Stress
Secondary Trauma
Compassion Fatigue
14 Steps That Help
14 Steps That Help
Steve B. Reed, LPC, LMSW, LMFT
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www.psychotherapy-center.com

2. Stress Level Limit
Stress Goes Here
Psychological
Coping
Container
Whether your capacity
for containing stress is
small, medium or large,
everyone has their limit.
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3. Two Types of Stress
Routine Stress
Both Adversely
Effect Functioning
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Traumatic Stress
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4. Traumatic Stress
Is too Intense
To Handle
Routed Into the
Bottom of the
Coping Container
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www.remapinstitute.org
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5. Traumatic Stress
Compartmentalized
for
Long-Term Storage
Does Not Heal
Remains Painful
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www.remapinstitute.org
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6. Routine Stress
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With Enough Time,
It Can Evaporate,
Work its way out
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www.remapinstitute.org
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7. Routine Stress
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Too Much, Too Soon
Leads to Spillover
Loss of Containment
Overwhelm – Panic
It Feels Traumatic
Video – 2 min.
0-----------------7------10
http://www.psychotherapycenter.com/Panic_Attack_Treatment.html
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8. Emotional Midbrain
• When traumatized or when we
• Hit cumulative stress overwhelm
• The midbrain (amygdala) is imprinted
• With threatening and benign data
• The alarm is then set and
• Triggered by any trauma remainder
• Causing a fight, flight or freeze reflex
Midbrain Intro http://www.psychotherapy-center.com/Two_Brains--How_REMAP_Can_Help.html
Video # 5 on the Midbrain – 11 min. http://www.psychotherapy-center.com/video_page.html
PTSD Symptoms http://www.psychotherapy-center.com/post_traumatic_stress_disorder.html 8

9. Secondary Trauma
Viewers of 9-11 Media Coverage
Develop Secondary PTSD
Trauma resulting from
caring for, hearing
about or witnessing
the intense suffering
of others. Over time,
the cumulative effect
can result in an
internalization of
trauma, leading to
compassion fatigue
or burnout.
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10. 12 Ways to
Increase
Resilience
to Stress &
Secondary
Trauma
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11. Boost Coping
Capacity
Speed Up
Offloading
Stress
www.psychotherapy-center.com
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12. Walk
Laugh
Sleep
Recreation
Social
Support
Media
Diet
TV
www.psychotherapy-center.com
6 Healthy Habits
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13. 3 Ways to Manage the Mind
Change Your Expectations
Expect = Get
Expect = Get
Develop a Positive Filter
Look for What’s to Like – Attitude of Gratitude
Let the ANTs Go
Automatic Negative Thoughts
http://www.psychotherapy-center.com/cognitive-behavioral-therapy.html
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14. 3 Daily Mind-Body Practices
Stress-Relieving Breathing
Video # 1 – 11 min. Intro.
Video # 2 – 6.5 min. Exercise
http://www.psychotherapy-center.com/video_page.html
Mindfulness
Video # 3 – 7 min. Intro.
Video # 4 – 7.5 min. Exercise
http://www.psychotherapy-center.com/video_page.html
Quick REMAP
Video # 6 – 11 min.
http://www.psychotherapy-center.com/video_page.html
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15. Professional Help – 2 Ways
To Heal Trauma
Clean
Out the
Container
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16. Effective PTSD Treatment
 EMDR
http://www.psychotherapy-center.com/emdr.html
 REMAP
http://www.psychotherapy-center.com/Quick_REMAP_Page.html
Useful in
Healing
the
Midbrain
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17. More Links to Info. & Articles
Article: Overcoming a Firefighter’s Trauma Case Study
http://www.psychotherapy-center.com/REMAP_Case_Study-Firefighter_Trauma.html
SlideShare: PTSD War Trauma Treatment Case Studies
SlideShare : Treating Domestic Violence PTSD Case Study
http://www.psychotherapy-center.com/post_traumatic_stress_disorder.html
Article: Soothing the Sympathetic Nervous System -- REMAP Research
http://www.psychotherapy-center.com/remap-HRV_research1.html
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18. Steve B. Reed, LPC, LMSW, LMFT
Please Share & Like
On Social Media
www.psychotherapy-center.com
stevereed@psychotherapy-center.com
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