Caregiver Trauma Essay

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Signs of trauma in caregivers. Common observations of caregivers experiencing trauma are avoidance of work, lower productivity, frequent use of sick days, decrease in empathy towards patients and peers, cynicism, and a report of an increase in alcohol use, sleep problems, headaches, gastrointestinal issues, and cardiac symptoms (Lombardo & Eyre, 2011). Two common maladaptive coping mechanisms seen in nurses are over-involvement with patients or disengagement from patients (Missouridou, 2017). Creating Trauma-Informed Care for Patients and Caregivers: Identifying Best Practices While there is some variability in what researchers provide as guiding principles or fundamental qualities, there is general agreement that there needs to be safety, …show more content…

A time when safety is paramount in an inpatient psychiatric setting is when patients are preoccupied with suicidality. Harris (2014) explains two different approaches. A non-trauma-informed approach would ask patients to contract for safety. This establishes comfort for the caregivers and ignores patients’ underlying feelings of wanting to die. A trauma-informed approach begins with a recognition that patients and caregivers often define safety differently. Patients may want to regain control over their intrusive thoughts of dying, while caregivers may be concerned with controlling environmental risks. TIC engages in a shared discussion by asking patients if they feel safe, then reaches a mutual understanding of what safety means, and what supports are needed to achieve it (Harris, …show more content…

Organizational leadership should support the employment of peer specialists, throughout all service delivery areas of behavioral health. Support groups that are lead by a peer specialists help in ways that professionals cannot. Caregivers and leaders should encourage patients’ attendance at mutual self-help groups. Self-help groups should be allowed to come to an inpatient setting. Creating opportunities of mutual support helps patients to feel less isolated, and enhances the recovery process, allowing patients to know that they cannot only receive support, but also they can provide support, adding purpose to life (NCTIC, 2015; Spencer,

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