Help Processing Collective Trauma: To Support Our Mind/Body/Heart
The expectation that we can be immersed in suffering and loss daily and not be touched by it is as unrealistic as expecting to be able to walk through water without getting wet.”
- Rachel Naomi Remen, MD: “Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal”
These resources are meant to support and allow our bodies to begin to process the stress and overwhelm.
1. Consider this 5 minute tapping exercise, empirically-researched for efficacy.
2. This crisis stabilization and safety aid offers five easy embodiment steps
https://traumahealing.org/scope/
3. The Power of Voo vagus nerv- polyvagal practice
The Power of "VOO": Vagus Nerve Exercise for Overwhelm
4. HALT (Am I Hungry.Angry.Lonely.Tired?) Prioritize hydration, nutrition, and gentle movement to support your nervous system. If it feels accessible, put on music and dance. Go for a walk around the block. Roll around on the floor.
5. Pace your News Intake. Choose a specific time of day to read the news. A Thich Nhat Hahn nun, Sister Peace looks at the news once, mid-day. Please give yourself a chance to rest. Be mindful of your exposure to traumatic news and social media consumption. Consider reading the news with a friend or asking for their recommendations of news sources rather than doom-scrolling.
