We come together in solidarity and community, and I also share some thoughts to help process responses and feelings to these events. I first want to say this - my sorrow and heartfelt love goes out to everyone affected by the attacks happening here and far away, and I also want to share my huge gratitude to the emergency services for their incredible bravery and dedication. Londoners and worldwide friends I know and don’t know, thank you for reaching out in solidarity.
Last night London was attacked. Again. The frequency of these attacks in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and as far as I can tell, everywhere, is invading every aspect of our lives. I was at a concert at the Royal Albert Hall last night and as it ended, just after 10pm, we all filed out of the venue. Thoughts of the Manchester attack leapt into my mind, I thought, ‘My God, we are so vulnerable here, we could be attacked right now.’ I bet most of my fellow audience members had the same thoughts. At that point, I was unaware of what was happening across town in London Bridge. Within half an hour I heard what was unfolding and my immediate response was a wish to hide because I didn’t want to let the fear take hold. That lasted about five minutes and then it did, it took hold. I was soon scrolling through social media and news sites looking at the visuals and personal accounts of the attack as I welled up with terror, anger, confusion, helplessness and nausea. I just couldn’t process the enormity of it. So here we all are in the aftermath of more violence, the sort of violence we can’t escape because it’s unpredictable and pervasive - it could happen anywhere, at any time. This morning I told a friend of mine I was in shock. Why did I say that? The fact that people can carry out such horrendous acts is shocking to me, but I’m not shocked. I knew this would happen, and I also know that it could happen again. Does this resonate with you? Our individual and collective notions of safety have been assaulted. My mind, body and heart feel besieged and again, I’m certain I’m not alone in this. For me, that’s the point – realising that so many people feel as confused and scared as I do gives me comfort in a strange way. Right across the globe, people are connected in their shared feelings of fear, grief and their efforts to reach out in solidarity. I feel lifted by the spontaneous outreach of generosity from people who were offering places to stay, cups of tea, blood donations, offers of lifts, food and more. The sheer ordinariness of these offers makes it even more heartening, and the volume of care helps me to not lose faith in humanity. I hold this in one hand while I sit here writing this with heaviness in my heart. Attacks like last night might happen again, and I ask myself how can we find ways to move through this collective pain and carry on. Because carry on we must. As our Mayor Sadiq Khan said, ‘This is our city… and we will never be cowed by terrorism’. I am a psychotherapist and I am fortunate to have learned skills and techniques that help me process, at least partly, some of what I’m feeling, not just in relation to the terrorist attacks, but the challenges of life. There is no magic panacea that will completely heal our visible and invisible wounds, and I don’t wish to trivialise any of this – our fears and trauma are very real. However, finding a way (or ways) to understand and begin to process your physical, mental and emotional responses will hopefully be of some use. Your feelings of fear, and your responses to that fear are entirely normal. I don’t mean to sound patronising but so often I hear people feeling as though they are weird, or that there is something wrong with them because of the way they respond to fear. I don’t know anyone who is impervious to fear, stress and anxiety; these feelings and more are triggered and exacerbated by traumatic events. Different parts of your brain fire up during and after the event, you release stress hormones, your body responds by moving you into action or you freeze. All of your physical, mental and emotional responses are normal, and it will likely take you time to process them. Breathe. I always ask my clients how their breathing is when I see them in heightened emotional states, and they look back at me like I’ve got two heads. Of course, as alive human beings we are all breathing, but what is the quality, depth and intention of your breath? Your breath is yours, you alone control it and it gives you life. See what it’s like to pay attention to it. There are countless videos and articles that demonstrate breathing techniques that help decrease stress levels, here’s just one article I came across. Bring awareness to your body. I used to think body awareness was pretty barmy, but nevertheless I tried it and I have been amazed how I’ve become more aware of my emotions when I pay attention to sensations and tension in my body. This can help release negative symptoms of difficult feelings and memories. Most trauma specialists use the body to help people process trauma. Whether you were affected directly or indirectly by the recent attacks, we are all feeling their aftermath. So if you are dealing with any kind of kind of trauma, or emotional turmoil you might want to look at these YouTube videos from Babette Rothschild about recovering from trauma. Mobilise your trauma alongside your friends, family or members of your community. Humans are inherently social, and the cohesiveness of working together for the common good invites healing. A trauma specialist called Bessel van der Kolk (podcast: How trauma lodges in the body) has conducted numerous studies about dealing with trauma. He found that after natural disasters or terrorist attacks which cause enormous stress to individuals and communities, people are driven to move, help and rebuild. These kinds of acts are critical to our healing as they integrate our bodies with our minds and feelings, and we do this alongside members of our community. We can all see evidence of this from the outpouring of active help from the public in London, Manchester and Paris. Feel what you need to feel and if you can, try to find a healthy way to express it. This builds on the last point, but is more connected to how you live your life day-to-day. They ways in which we do this are as unique and paradoxically common as we each are: talk to a friend, take the dog out, meditate, do some exercise, attend vigils, engage in some sort of creative activity, cook, or get additional support if you feel you need it. Last night, I hid for a few moments and then I cried, I really sobbed. We can only cry for so long, and when I was ready I reached out to my friends and family. I love getting into nature, so this morning I went to the park with people I love and a Labrador, and now I’m writing this blog. Take the time and space you need to find your own way. I’m sharing these thoughts and ideas because I feel driven to act. It’s a pretty minor thing to do, and maybe these words are just for me; I don’t know who is going to read this and if they do, it may not land with the reader. Yet, writing and sharing this is doing something. Some small cathartic movements are happening inside me, and my fellow Londoners be warned - I will smile and talk to you on the Tube. I will not be cowed.
4 Comments
Thank you Leann for writing this and sharing it with us. I know that you say these words may be just for you, but know they have touched me and I feel better for them. I too have been overwhelmed with sadness by these attacks, finding solace only in the solidity of strangers, offering kind messages, support and refuge to one another. Much love to you and take care
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Leann Lavery
6/7/2017 08:32:15 am
Dionne - many thanks for your kind words!
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Caroline
6/4/2017 03:02:03 pm
Lovely words Leanne. X
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Leann Lavery
6/7/2017 08:31:36 am
Thank you Caroline!
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AuthorSome blogs and views about mental health and wellness by psychotherapist, Leann Lavery. Archives
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