Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Empathy Awareness, Research and Resources
“Memories of traumatic experiences may not be primarily retrieved as narratives. Our own and others research has suggested that PTSD traumatized peoples difficulties with putting memories into words are reflected in actual changes in brain activity.. – Bessel A. van der Kolk
PTSD and Empathy Research
PTSD and Empathy
"Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop in individuals who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. Empathy, which refers to the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, can be influenced by PTSD. While the relationship between PTSD and empathy is complex and can vary among individuals, here are some key points to consider:
1.
Hyperarousal and Emotional Regulation: People with PTSD often experience hyperarousal, which is a state of heightened anxiety and emotional reactivity. This heightened state can make it challenging to regulate their own emotions, potentially affecting their ability to empathize with others' emotions. Individuals with PTSD may be overwhelmed by their own emotional responses, making it more difficult to focus on and understand the emotions of others.
2.
Hypervigilance and Emotional Numbing: PTSD can lead to hypervigilance, where individuals are constantly on high alert and sensitive to potential threats or triggers. This state of hypervigilance can consume significant cognitive and emotional resources, making it more difficult to engage in empathetic responses. Additionally, some individuals with PTSD may experience emotional numbing or detachment as a coping mechanism, which can also impact their ability to empathize.
3.
Trauma-Related Avoidance: People with PTSD often engage in avoidance behaviors to protect themselves from triggering memories or reminders of the traumatic event. This avoidance may extend to emotional and social interactions, potentially limiting opportunities for empathetic engagement. Avoidance can create barriers to connecting with others' emotions and experiences, making empathy more challenging.
4.
Vicarious Trauma: Individuals with PTSD may have experienced traumatic events that result in their own trauma-related symptoms. This personal trauma can affect their own emotional well-being and capacity for empathy. Experiencing vicarious trauma, which is the indirect exposure to traumatic events through others' stories or experiences, can further impact empathy as it can trigger personal trauma-related responses.
5.
Compassion Fatigue: Individuals with PTSD, particularly those in helping professions, may be at higher risk of experiencing compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue refers to the emotional exhaustion and reduced capacity to empathize that can occur from continuously providing care and support to others. This fatigue can affect empathetic responses and may require self-care and support to restore empathetic capacities.
It's important to note that while PTSD can present challenges to empathy, it does not mean that individuals with PTSD are incapable of empathy. Empathy can still be present and expressed, and individuals with PTSD may have a deep understanding and compassion for others who have experienced similar traumas.
Treatment and support for PTSD, such as therapy and self-care practices, can help individuals manage their symptoms, enhance emotional regulation, and facilitate the restoration of empathetic capacities. Creating a supportive and understanding environment can also contribute to fostering empathy in individuals with PTSD by providing them with a safe space to share their experiences and emotions." (Source: ChatGPT 2023)
Alterations in Empathic Responding among Women with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Associated with Childhood Trauma NIH / Brain and Behavior
Are Empathic Abilities Impaired in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder? ResearchGate
Does PTSD cause Lack of Empathy? The Healthy Journal
Elevated Empathy in Adults following Childhood Trauma Plos One
Empathy, PTSD, and Migration in African Refugees Taylor and Francis Online
Empathy in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Comparison to a Control Population NIH
Oxytocin can Improve Compassion in People with Symptoms of PTSD ScienceDaily Polygenic scores for Empathy Associate with Posttraumatic Stress Severity in Response to certain Traumatic Events ScienceDirect
Research on the Relationship between Empathy, Belief in a Just World, and Childhood Trauma in Pre-Clinical Medical Students PDF Download MDPI
Secondary Traumatic Stress, Level of Exposure, Empathy and Social Support in Trauma Workers Sage Journals
The Contribution of Empathy and Attachment to Adaptation of Partners of PTSD Veterans Bar-Ilan University The Mediating Role of Cognitive Trauma Processing in the Relationship Between Empathy and Secondary Traumatic Stress Symptoms Among Female Professionals Working With Victims of Violence Sage Journals
The Neural Basis of Empathy and Empathic Behavior in the Context of Chronic Trauma Frontiers in Psychiatry
The Neural Development of Empathy is Sensitive to Caregiving and Early Trauma Nature Communications
The Relationship between Dispositional Empathy, Psychological Distress, and Posttraumatic Stress Responses among Japanese Uniformed Disaster Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study BMC Psychiatry
