To Trauma Survivors Coping With the Election
Editor's Note
This story reflects an individual’s experience and is not an endorsement from The Mighty. We believe in sharing a variety of perspectives from our community.
If you’ve experienced sexual abuse or assault, the following post could be potentially triggering. You can contact The National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
To the trauma survivors coping with the election, I see you.
To those who have acquired giant toolboxes to aid you in your daily survival with trauma, anxiety, depression and/or chronic pain, only to find that there is no breathing deep enough, no thinking positive enough, no lavender oil calming enough, to help you cope with the enormity of all that is just so extra about 2020.
To those who have been devastated by the gaslighting and psychological abuse of a malignant narcissist and had the courage to pull yourself from the ashes to completely rebuild your life by reclaiming remnants of your own thoughts, only to find you are surrounded by 50% of the population (give or take) who don’t get how serious it is when world leaders gaslight their base.
To those who made a life and death decision to choose their own mental health over friends and family and grieve daily over those they’ve lost, only to find that in order to survive the current political climate, more need to go.
To those who have left churches where no one acted like Jesus or escaped from cults and survived the subsequent smear campaigns in order to hear what the still, small voice inside of you whispers about beauty, goodness and truth, only to find those who “voted with their conscience” don’t seem to care about basic human rights.
To those who are thinking twice right now about leaving their house because there’s a chance a neighbor could hurt them, intentionally or unintentionally, over beliefs about wearing masks, flags in a yard, or the color of skin, only to find that, no matter the outcome of the election, these community anxieties remain.
To all whose hearts are heavy right now, I see you. To all who are weary, I am weary with you. Trauma survivors are some of the bravest, strongest, most beautiful souls to walk the earth and we need you to keep showing and sharing your hard earned truths with the world. Your feelings matter, even if it feels like no one understands. Your voice matters, even if it feels like screaming into a void. You have survived so much and you will survive this season, too.
Image courtesy of Getty images
Vicki Peterson is a neurodivergent writer who is certified certified in trauma recovery and makes daily peace with multiple physical and mental health challenges, including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and complex PTSD.
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