Traumatic events are extraordinary, not because they occur rarely, but rather because they overwhelm the ordinary human adaptations to life: Judith Herman
I have been in Manchester the last few days (May 2017) supporting people affected by the Manchester disaster. I feel so humbled and privileged to have been able to share their experience.
These beautiful people are so strong and brave, tying to return to some sense of normality when their worlds have been blown apart.
There is a lot of what if……… which is normal with victims of trauma
However far removed you are from this disaster we have all in some way been affected by it.
Some of us directly and some indirectly.
I am a mother and have often been called a lioness where my children are concerned. I actually see that as a normal humanistic response, that a lot of mothers have to protect their children.
I have been speaking with mothers who went into fight and flight response and knew they needed to get their children out and to safety. Their own welfare and well-being was secondary in that moment:
I have been speaking to people who don’t know how to support their children who were at the concert and were traumatised.
I have been speaking to staff who witnesses parents being told their children had been killed
I have been speaking to men who don’t know how to support their friend whose child/relative died in the explosion.
Many people have asked the question why do they target innocent children?
My only answer to that is maximum impact.
Do I fully understand it, I try to but no I don’t, as my experience of the world is very different to the people who carry out these attacks?
All of these people are struggling with how to be ….. in the face of adversity
All of these individuals need to take care of themselves. There is a ripple effect to trauma and I have only met a very small amount of people who are victims of the trauma.
Life is so precious and so fragile, we have to live in the moment respect difference and be grateful for every moment of this precious life we have.