Can reading about someone else’s trauma affect you?
Understanding vicarious trauma online
We spend so much of our time online. We scroll through posts, read news stories, watch videos and come across personal accounts of people sharing some of the most difficult experiences of their lives.
When we repeatedly encounter stories and content about sexual violence, especially when we deeply empathise with the people sharing those experiences, it can affect us too.
This is where vicarious trauma can come in.
Vicarious trauma refers to the emotional impact that can come from being exposed to someone else’s trauma and suffering. While it is often discussed in relation to people who work closely with survivors, such as counsellors and support workers, repeated exposure to traumatic stories online can also leave us feeling emotionally overwhelmed.
Research into secondary traumatic stress, a related concept, has found that people can experience trauma-related emotional responses after being exposed to the traumatic experiences of others. More recent research has also found links between exposure to traumatic information on social media and symptoms of secondary traumatic stress.
You might notice that you feel sad, anxious, angry, helpless or emotionally drained after spending time with difficult content. You may find yourself thinking about someone’s story long after you have put your phone down, or feeling more fearful about your own safety or the safety of people you care about.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care. Caring deeply about what happens to others is human. But caring for others also means recognising when you need to care for yourself.
If you notice that sexual violence content is beginning to affect your emotional wellbeing, it is okay to step away, take a break from your feed, mute or unfollow accounts, and give yourself time to process what you have seen.
You don’t have to consume every story to show that you care. Protecting your own wellbeing doesn’t mean you care any less about survivors.
If you can’t speak to anyone, speak to us:
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Written by
Jameelah Ebrahim
