5 Signs You’re Experiencing Vicarious Trauma as a Healthcare Worker

Working in healthcare is more than a job — it’s a calling. It demands empathy, precision, and resilience, often in the face of others’ pain and crisis. While many healthcare professionals are deeply dedicated to helping others, that very compassion can quietly take a toll.

One of the most common — and least talked about — effects of caring for others is vicarious trauma.

Also known as secondary trauma, vicarious trauma can arise when you are consistently exposed to patients’ suffering, trauma stories, or medical emergencies. Over time, the emotional residue of others’ pain can begin to feel like your own.

You don’t have to be in a war zone or an ER to be affected. Vicarious trauma can affect anyone working in healthcare — whether you're a nurse, physician, therapist, social worker, or support staff — especially in emotionally intense or chronically under-resourced settings.

So how do you know if what you’re feeling is more than just stress or burnout? Here are five common signs:

1. You Feel Emotionally Numb or Detached

One of the first signs of vicarious trauma is emotional distancing — a survival mechanism that kicks in when you’re overwhelmed by others’ pain. You may find yourself tuning out during patient interactions or feeling indifferent to stories that once moved you.

This numbness isn’t a sign you don’t care. It’s your mind’s way of trying to protect itself from overload. The trouble is, over time, this emotional disconnection can spill into your personal life, making it harder to connect with loved ones or experience joy.

2. You’re Always on Edge

If you find yourself feeling tense, jumpy, or hyperaware, vicarious trauma might be at play. You may notice you’re easily startled, overly worried about your safety or the safety of others, or having trouble relaxing — even during your off-hours.

This is because your nervous system may be stuck in a chronic state of alert, mirroring the trauma or crisis your patients are experiencing. It’s not uncommon for healthcare workers to begin internalizing the trauma they witness, which can keep the body and brain in a constant state of stress.

3. Intrusive Thoughts or Imagery

Sometimes, vicarious trauma can look a lot like PTSD — even if you didn’t experience the trauma directly. You might find yourself replaying patient stories in your mind, having nightmares about distressing medical cases, or feeling haunted by things you’ve seen.

These intrusive thoughts can feel overwhelming or confusing, especially when you didn’t go through the traumatic event yourself. But again — witnessing trauma through others, day after day, has a very real psychological impact.

4. You Feel Hopeless or Cynical

When you’re exposed to suffering regularly, it can become harder to hold on to hope — for your patients, your profession, or even the world.

Vicarious trauma often shows up as cynicism, emotional exhaustion, or a sense of futility. You might find yourself thinking, “What’s the point?” or feeling like the good you’re doing just isn’t enough.

These thoughts don’t mean you’re failing. They’re a sign that your internal resources are being depleted, and you may need space to process, replenish, and reconnect with meaning again.

5. Changes in Sleep, Appetite, or Coping Behaviors

Finally, vicarious trauma can affect your daily functioning — sometimes in subtle ways. Are you sleeping too little (or too much)? Eating irregularly? Reaching for alcohol, food, or screens more than usual to cope?

These shifts aren’t signs of weakness — they’re signs your nervous system is trying to manage distress. But when they become chronic, they can interfere with your well-being and signal it’s time to pause and seek support.

You Are Not Alone — And You Deserve Support

If you recognize yourself in any of these signs, know this: you are not broken, weak, or “not cut out” for this work. You are a human being who cares deeply — and sometimes that caring comes with a cost.

Healing from vicarious trauma doesn’t mean you have to leave your job or stop helping others. It means acknowledging the impact this work can have on your emotional and physical health — and making space for your own healing, too.

Therapy, peer support, mindfulness practices, setting boundaries, and reconnecting with meaning outside of work can all help you process what you’ve absorbed and restore your sense of self.

At our practice, we offer virtual therapy for healthcare professionals across California who are carrying invisible emotional weight. You show up for others every day — let us show up for you.

💬 Ready to talk? Schedule a free consult.