Michele Smith
Articles & Information
A great informative little video by Peter Levine on how trauma is held in the body. Dr. Levine is a leader in the field of Somatic healing for trauma. He is the author of "In An Unspoken Voice", among others.
A brief look at what can happen in the brain during a traumatic event. A victim could potentially also remain stuck in flight or fight response depending on the circumstance.
Distinction between grief and trauma. In the case of a traumatic death, it is not uncommon for a survivor to suffer from them both
simultaneously.
An excellent and easy to understand video on trauma and the brain.
COLLECTIVE TRAUMA
Collective trauma is often described as “a blow to the basic tissues of social life that damages the bonds attaching people together and impairs the prevailing sense of communality.” It is often less recognized or visible to mental health workers in comparison to individual trauma. People find it difficult to heal from the effects of individual trauma when a supportive community is in shreds or does not exist. This is why establishing links between individuals and groups is essential.
Often people will pull together and function during or directly after a disaster, or social or communal break down. In the early stages there is usually a “heroic” phase where there is much energy, optimism and altruism. As the implications, and losses become more real, grief reactions intensify.
A few tips to help with coping with the stress and minimizing long term traumatic reaction:
1. Keep your sense of humour. Find a reason to laugh.
2. Stay connected in any way available to you with loved ones and groups.
3. Create a daily schedule with goals that includes self care, excercise and fresh air walks.
4. Practice connecting to your senses, what you feel, see, hear, smell and taste.
5. Turn up the music and dance even if you are alone.
6. Find meaning and purpose in your current circumstance.
7. Assist or help someone at least once during your week. Staying in touch with those that are alone.
8. Nurture family relationships.
9. Control only that which you can and is in your grasp, being concerned only for today.
10. Journal a list of things at the end of each day that you are grateful for.
Lack of warning or little warning often robs communities and individuals of feelings of control and increases feelings of helplessness. Threat to personal safety is directly related to long term and immediate psychological symptoms for both community and responders. Children in particular have had their school life and relationships severed and need special attention to connection.
The above things tend to help with feelings of helplessness and fear. Staying calm and making cognitive decisions rather than emotion based decisions, for both family and community.
God bless and stay connected.