{"id":34,"date":"2016-06-21T18:35:08","date_gmt":"2016-06-21T18:35:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fptemp.wpengine.com\/?p=34"},"modified":"2016-06-27T20:41:24","modified_gmt":"2016-06-27T20:41:24","slug":"34","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fosteringperspectives.org\/?p=34","title":{"rendered":"Resource Parent Self-care and Secondary Traumatic Stress"},"content":{"rendered":"

The expectation that we can be immersed in suffering and loss daily and not be touched by it is as unrealistic as expecting to be able to walk through water without getting wet.<\/em>
\n\u2014 Rachel Naomi Remen<\/em>
\nMany children in foster care have experienced trauma\u2014events that threatened their life or sense of safety, or the life or safety of a parent, sibling, or someone important to them. Traumas experienced by children in foster care can include things such as:
\nPhysical abuse or assault
\nSexual abuse or assault
\nNeglect
\nSeparation from loved ones.
\nExposure to domestic violence or
\ncommunity violence
\nTrauma\u2019s impact varies. Some children recover very quickly. Others struggle. Trauma can profoundly affect children\u2019s behavior, feelings, relationships, learning, physical health, and view of the world. Research convincingly shows that if it is not treated, trauma can negatively affect children for the rest of their lives.
\nBecause it can have such a big impact, resource parents and others who work with children in foster care need to understand trauma and how to help children recover from it. They need to be \u201ctrauma-informed.\u201d
\nA key part of being trauma-informed\u2014and self-care\u2014is understanding secondary traumatic stress.
\nBecause they work so closely with traumatized children and care so much about them, foster and adoptive parents and kinship caregivers are at increased risk for secondary traumatic stress.<\/p>\n

Secondary Traumatic Stress
\nAs the \u201csecondary\u201d in the name suggests, the cause of secondary traumatic stress (STS) is indirect. It is trauma that results from exposure to someone else\u2019s trauma, or to their trauma reactions.
\nBecause they work so closely with traumatized children and care so much about them, foster and adoptive parents and kinship caregivers are at increased risk of STS. Resource parents\u2019 exposure to children\u2019s trauma commonly occurs through:
\nWhat a child tells them or what they hear a child say
\nA child\u2019s play, drawings, written stories
\nA child\u2019s reactions to trauma reminders
\nMedia coverage, case reports, or other documents about the trauma.
\nResource parents\u2019 reactions to these things can vary. Some are troubled or moved by what they hear and see but are able to continue on as before. Others may begin to experience signs of STS. These signs can include intrusive images; nervousness or jumpiness; difficulty concentrating or taking in information; nightmares or insomnia; emotional numbing; feelings of hopelessness or helplessness; anger (e.g., at the birth families, society, etc.); and feeling disconnected from loved ones.
\nLike a primary trauma, secondary traumatic stress can change the way you see and feel about the world. It can cause you to:
\nLose perspective and identify too closely with the child
\nRespond inappropriately or disproportionately (e.g., for example, you may try to cocoon your child from any possible trauma reminders)
\nWithdraw from the child
\nGo to great lengths to avoid further exposure to the child\u2019s trauma (e.g., try never to be alone with the child).
\nUnaddressed, STS can disrupt lives, feelings, personal relationships, and even foster care and adoptive placements.
\nWhen You Have Unresolved Trauma
\nIf a resource parent had a trauma in their past (e.g., loss of a family member, death of a close friend, physical or emotional abuse, domestic violence) and it was not fully resolved, they may be more vulnerable to STS. The pain of resource parents\u2019 past experiences can be \u201cre-awakened\u201d by exposure to children going through similar situations. As a result, they may have trouble differentiating their experience from their child\u2019s or expect the child to cope with the trauma the same way they did.
\nHere are some suggestions for coping when a child\u2019s trauma is a reminder for you:
\nRecognize the connection between your child\u2019s trauma and your own history.
\nDistinguish which feelings belong to the present and which to the past.
\nBe honest: with yourself, with your child, and with your caseworker.
\nGet support, including trauma-focused treatment. It\u2019s never too late to heal.
\nRecognize that what worked for you may not work for your child.
\nPreventing STS
\nWhat can resource parents do to protect themselves from secondary traumatic stress?
\nYou have already taken one important step, which is learning about STS\u2014what it is and how it is caused. Knowing the signs to look for will help you recognize early on when you see possible symptoms in yourself or other family members.
\nSelf-care is tremendously important, too. If you regularly do things that help you live a balanced life, you are protecting yourself against secondary traumatic stress. Creating and using a self-care plan is strongly recommended. For more on self-care plans and for ideas for daily, weekly, and monthly self-care activities, see page 2 of this issue. The sidebar below also offers helpful suggestions.
\nConclusion
\nTo help the children in your care, you must take care of yourself\u2014physically, psychologically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. If you do this, you can be there for children and their families when they need you.
\nSources: NCTSN, 2010; Conrad, 2004; Children\u2019s Home Society of Missouri, n. d.; Remen, 2006<\/em><\/p>\n

Strategies for Fighting Secondary Trauma<\/p>\n

Understand and respond to your own needs<\/strong>. Learn to recognize your body\u2019s signs of stress.<\/p>\n

Set limits<\/strong>. You cannot be everything to everyone. Learn to say \u201cno\u201d to requests for your time or attention. Recognize the job of parenting children who have been traumatized requires a change in other priorities and other relationships.<\/p>\n

Create time for rest and leisure<\/strong>. Small ways of taking care of yourself can include a morning cup of coffee, a special bubble bath, a walk in the park. Focus on healthy ways to relax\u2014increasing your consumption of alcohol or eating sweets may feel good in the moment but will lead to further stress in the future.<\/p>\n

Maintain positive view of the world<\/strong>. Bad things happen, but there is a lot of good in the world. Remember that you are part of the good that is happening in your child\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

Seek out help for your own feelings<\/strong>. You are your child\u2019s lifeline. Taking care of you is taking care of your child. Find others who will listen without judgment\u2014a friend, a sibling, a therapist, or a support group. (All of the above, if possible!)<\/p>\n

Choose your battles<\/strong>. Ask yourself \u201cdoes this really matter?\u201d See what you can let go of. Realize that life will go on even if you are not perfect.<\/p>\n

Keep hope alive<\/strong>. Focus on the glimmers of hope and change in your child and your relationship with your child.<\/p>\n

Source: Children\u2019s Home Society of Missouri, n. d.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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