June is PRIDE Month. This month we celebrate the hard work that the LGBTQIA community has done in order to bring about increased equality, not just for themselves, but for all of us. Amidst all the celebration it is important to remember to care for ourselves and one another.
What is trauma?
As a society we are starting to recognize the impacts of trauma more and more. Psychology Today defines "trauma" as a person's emotional response to a distressing experience. Trauma can impact every aspect of our lives; our physical health, mental health, spirituality, relationships, jobs, families. It permeates everything.
What is collective trauma?
Collective trauma is when a particular group of people experience a response to a shared trauma. Humans are social creatures and when we belong to a community, we share its hurts. As a result, when traumas occur to members of our community, even if they don't affect us directly, they can still have a huge impact.
Why is collective trauma so important for LGBTQIA individuals to be aware of?
The LGBTQIA community has experienced a significant amount of trauma over the past several decades. It can be argued that the first PRIDE started with a traumatic experience. The first PRIDE was a Riot that started due to police targeting of LGBTQIA establishments and individuasls. The Stonewall Riot began on June 28, 1969 and lasted 6 days. The first PRIDE event was held in NYC the year after the riots to commemorate the event. Decades later, we feel the impacts of this event on our community. We celebrate with parades, events and gatherings, but like so many things in our community, it is rooted in trauma.
As a community, we were able to heal from the trauma of the Stonewall Riots and use it as a cornerstone in the fight for equal rights. But there are many other instances of trauma that remain a source of pain for our community.
The AIDS epidemic killed hundreds of thousands of LGBTQIA individuals. This not only caused a massive amount of trauma and grief, it resulted in almost an entire generation of the LGBTQIA being lost. This meant that younger generations have not only had to shoulder this grief, they have had to grow up without role models in their community.
The Pulse Nightclub Shooting in 2016 has left scars and caused members of the community to continue to be wary of gatherings and public shows of support.
Recent political events have also led to collective trauma in the LGBTQIA community. While here in North East, many of our rights are protected, we see in other areas of the country our brothers and sisters are being threatened.
What do we do?
Community and belonging offer so many benefits and they are essential to wellbeing. But there are times when being part of a community can hurt and be very difficult. If you are struggling with the effects of collective trauma to our community here are some things you can do:
Give yourself permission. Sometimes we feel like we don't "deserve" to grieve or feel badly because these bad things "didn't happen to us." But being part of a community means we are part of the good and the bad. It is okay to have the feelings you are having.
Talk it out. Talk with others in your community. The benefits of being part of a community come from not being alone. Reach out and talk to others about how you are feeling. You will likely find others feel the same way as you, and they may even have some more tips on what to do about it.
Do something. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder most often manifests when we feel helpless. To counteract this, find a way to get involved. Donate to an organization that supports LGBTQIA, volunteer at your local center, advocate with your representatives, write a letter or blog post. Find ways to get involved that work for you and look to build a future where collective trauma is not so prevalent in our community. (If you are feeling a little burnt out from activism, check out this blog on self care for activists)
Use Your Skills. Use whatever coping skills you would usually use when you are struggling. Remember, you are allowed to feel this way and you are allowed to help yourself through it.
Get help if you need to. Sometimes you need a little bit of extra help and support. if you find yourself in this situation check out our blog post on How to Find a Therapist That is Right For You. You can also reach out to us at Three Circles Therapy Services.
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