Not a typo although weight would have done nicely. What is healing in the context of global trauma, how do we get to be ok when there is so much suffering?
Working in the humanitarian space for so long, this question was always front of mind. I got to go in and out of spaces of poverty, conflict and disasters. I got to fly home to my comfy bed, abundance of food and things that work.
I didn’t feel like I was allowed to be ok when so many others weren’t. But what I realised is my dysregulation at the state of the world was not useful to the world.
Dysregulation takes us out, immobilises us. It’s a trauma response. But anger and sadness are completely human responses to horror.
It’s ok to feel these, it is safe, albeit uncomfortable to. They help us get clear about what to do next.
Making space to heal from trauma and a dysregulated nervous system is also how we become more able to play our part.
We know healing isn’t a one time destination in the same way our bodies don’t heal once. We break an arm and heal. We get sick from the flu and heal, we give birth and our bodies heal.
Using the right medicine for our emotional pain to heal from events and long held debilitating beliefs can be powerful and gives us hope we can do it again when needed.
It feels like there’s a long wait for things to be right in the world.
In the meantime, it’s ok (important, necessary) to tend to our own healing; for our own wellbeing, and so we can stay present to it and play our part 💙
If you’d like to make an appointment for counselling online or in-person in Marrickville, you can book in here.
Warmly,
Jane
