Can we speak our truth

The helping professions continue to be faced with a major crisis arising from the trauma that members face. As I have suggested in previous post, Ode to Social Work, the impact of trauma is ongoing requiring that care be taken to look after the self. However, the trauma goes further when workers are unable to be honest with how they are feeling. First responders are increasingly aware of how trauma changes who they are, but there continues to be challenges talking openly about the emotional impacts.

This is, of course, part of the much larger problem in society surrounding the stigma of mental illness.  Even those working in mental health settings, may find challenges talking about their own challenges. There are the divides - the professional on one side and the patient or client on the other side. How does the professional successfully manage being on the patient side?

There have been some communities where this is somewhat easier. In addictions work, it is common to see those with longer term recovery working in the clinics and treatment centres. They often openly talk about their journey through recovery. But social workers and other mental health workers are typically taught that it is not very professional to offer any significant self disclosure to clients. There are good reasons for that but it is a subtle way to also indicate barriers to talking about your own mental health. How do we allow the conversation to safely come out of the darkness.

Working with traumatized people creates a burden that can only be carried for so long. If it is not shared, it becomes the internal toxicity that corrodes from inside. The quest is to create more conversations amongst us to ensure that our colleagues can be supported in getting good mental health treatment but also be allowed to openly speak about the impact carrying trauma has had upon them. It is about allowing truth to be spoken.

In meditation, we come to know our own emotions and learn about them. We can begin to see the triggers and how they can set us off. By doing so, we can reduce, manage and alter our response to the triggers. These become powerful tools. We also need to share that so that we affirm our place in the world and the work we do to manage effectively. 

Truth

Depression

Anxiety

Walking with and away from trauma

This is my truth

Ah society

Will you let me tell my truth

Or will you shame me

Will I allow the truth

Will I give it voice

Speaking not for sympathy

Not for approval

But to have a place

That is with the truth

Do we honour truth

Or do we honour image

Is truth only allowed

When its good and comfortable

Or can it happen

When its raw and disturbing

Truth and pain

They can be told

When society says the story matters

Because they approve of the cause

What is to be done

When the story hurts the listener

Is it to be told

Or is it to be shunned

When is the story about strength

And not weakness

When can we stand proudly 

And tell all

Is it only in recovery

Or can we be heard in defeat

I scream my pain

I yell out loud begging for an ear

I pierce the darkness

In the hope of finding light

I crawl through the mud

In prayer of a river

To be heard

There must be a listener

One who just hears

Please don't try to fix me

I implore that you be with my painful self

I struggle to accept me

Join me in that struggle

Walk with me in my truth

Then

May we listen together

© Peter Choate, 2016