Today has been a tough day. Many of us have reacted in a political fashion, and rightly so. But, I think we need to take a moment to get away from the politics and focus on the lives lost and the hundreds who have been wounded in London. Each person affected, along with their network of family and friends, needs support and caring. Unless we are personally able to do so or until a book of condolences is set up, perhaps we can use this as a platform to share our concern and compassion for now.
We must also acknowledge all who have suffered through such tragedies around the world, as this day has brought forward feelings that may be very difficult to cope with. I’ve had PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) for 10 years now and I understand how triggers can set off memories that make a person feel as if they’re re-experiencing their trauma all over again. My trauma was not terrorist-related and I’m okay, other than experiencing profound sadness. Others may not be though.
If you need to talk about how this has affected you, please be assured that you will be respected by your fellow Tribbers here if you choose to do so. If you’ve been affected and choose not to post, please talk to someone you trust so you can deal with your feelings. You are not alone.
Again – just one rule. No politics. I know this may be difficult for some, but there are other diaries you can participate in that deal with the politics. This is about the deeply personal.
Thank you.
When I woke up this morning and turned on my TV, all I could think was “not again”. When I react to chaos, it usually turns into a frenzy of activity so I can keep busy and focus on my feelings later. That’s gotten me into emotional trouble sometimes when I never did go back to process the feelings. I’m careful not to do that anymore because I know if I do, I’ll pay for it later.
After watching the statements of the victims today, the wounded and the witnesses, I’ve become very sad. My first emotion, after the shock, was anger. But, the sadness always follows the anger. My heart truly goes out to all who’ve been affected. I have some understanding of how profoundly one’s life can change following a traumatic incident and I know the struggle to survive. I can only hope that all involved will seek the help offered and find some peace – because I know that peace can be found inside. It just takes time.
I have been numb with sadness today. My anger has temporarily been replaced with a profound acknowledgment that all of humanity has been diminished by these acts. I had an experience once where total rage took over me (not anger, but pure rage), and it scared me to my core. Since then I find myself aware of other people’s emotional…aura. It’s hard to find the right word. I’m just sick from all the hate, the war, the poverty. Thx for the diary catnip, as always.
You’re welcome and thanks for posting. It’s just all too much to take sometimes. hugs
Thank you catnip for giving those of us with that disorder some room. I have suffered PTSD for more than 35 yrs, associated with childhood trauma’s. I self medicated for more than 18 of those years and not until I became clean and sober could I deal with the harsh realities of what had transpired in my childhood. Having spent many years in various methods of treatment for this particular disruptive disorder, I have now been granted some peace from its debilitating and demoralizing effects.
I hope that anyone who is suffering from undue depression, rage, or latent complacency to the events of the last few days, find someone to talk to, open up your emotions and please help yourself out of the enormous trap that PTSD creates in us to keep us in that hell hole that we did not create. I pray that each of you who suffer from this disorder will one day find the same peace that I have found from this disease of the soul.
I am angry, I am not despaired,
I am hopeful, not hopeless,
I will stand against injustice,
for I am a Human Being.
Thank you so much for giving us a glimpse into what you have lived through. There are so many of us – the walking wounded…
Hi Catnip,
Thanks for the great idea, as you know since I stated it before, I was finally diagnosed in March. It stemmed out of Panama, but that’s all I am ready to disclose on the internet. I still have a thing about trust, even to anonymous screen names … well, maybe one day I’ll be ready.
I’m sure some New Yorkers are having icky feelings right now and I feel very sorry for the future of having to deal with it for some Londoners.
Why won’t the world get better? Ah, better listen to some louis Armstrong now.
I’ve mainly been avoiding news about it because it makes me so depressed. As zander pointed out in her diary, this kind of thing is an everyday occurrence in Iraq, and that doesn’t even rate a mention. (Though the Prez’s speech about turning corners and how desperate the insurgents are gets front paged.) A handful of bombs go off in London, and suddenly it’s the end of the world, and gets a full five-day media blitz.
It may not be racism, strictly speaking, but it still makes me feel ill. And afraid that I might slip into the same mode of thinking.
I think about it constantly, but it is just too overwhelming.
Thinking more about it, this is exactly what made me cringe at the “Over there not over here” strategy Bush was pushing for a while. It was outright racist. Better for the terrorists to blow up Middle East cities with lots of brown people in them than blow up American cities with lots of white people in them.
It’s a “strategy” predicated on defending ourselves by throwing other people in the line of fire.
you are right of course, but I thought this was a non-political thread. Perhaps I just should’ve kept my mouth shut.