Secondary Trauma

The primary source of emotional trauma is, of course the disaster itself. But the sources of tramatization do not end when the disaster is over (in a literal sense) and when the victims have been rescued. After the disaster comes the “second disaster” – the effects of the disaster – dealing with the after math and recovery from the disaster.

The 2 biggest secondary traumas are relocation and death of a loved one. Moving and death have a huge impact on children in the best of circumstances. After a disaster it could be the straw that breaks teh camels back. These force a person to confront the effects of the disaster for extended periods of time - or simply forever. They commplicate the healing process by increasing the stress and risks for severe trauma. They aren't things that can be easily avoided. But there is much we can do to less their effects and help not just in dealing with these things but with the disaster as a whole.