Continuing advances in neuroscience help us to better understand the impact of stress and trauma on our bodies, brains and minds - and on our relationships with ourselves and others. Research has also broadened, and refined, our understanding of ways to support the healing of trauma symptoms, manage stress, increase resilience and improve wellbeing.
It appears, however, that in some areas we were/are a few thousand years behind in our understanding of how to deal with the ups and downs of life. First Nations cultures all over the world have been using traditional practices that reflect what neuroscience now shows are effective strategies for processing life's events (Atkinson, 2019). These practices have included story telling through song, dance and art as well as the oral tradition. The use of drumming and rhythmic rituals are prominent in many cultures, as is having a close and significant relationship with nature and the world around them. Gathering together to share in grief or celebration was an integral part of life.These traditional practices align well with neurobiological principles of healing (Perry in Malchiodi, 2014).
By processing and integrating these experiences into our life-story, post-traumatic growth and resilience is more likely to be the outcome - and it is less likely that the impact of the trauma will be inadvertently passed on to future generations.
I wonder if the scientific advances and discoveries have been observed with some amusement, and perhaps frustration, by those who were already wise in this knowledge. None-the-less, there is a tremendous advantage and opportunity in developing a shared understanding of the value of cultural practices for healing trauma and maintaining wellbeing.
Healing transgenerational trauma is a huge undertaking which we need to pursue urgently, however this process will need buy-in from government, communities, families and individuals - so will take time. What is it that we can do now...? What can we do that may impact the future - and is doable on an individual, family and Community level. I believe that if we focus on preventing the build up of chronic stress and the accumulation of little "t" traumas, the impact can be huge. Little "h" healing perhaps..... Little "t" traumas include such things as relationship conflict and loss of a significant relationship, bullying and harassment, and emotional abuse. These events can have a great and ongoing impact on people's lives, particularly if they experience multiple events, are already vulnerable or it occurs at a time when the brain is still developing resulting in developmental trauma.
The graphic below shows a range of expressive activities that fit with traditional practices and/or Expressive Therapies techniques. Notice that they also align with a range of leisure activities that many naturally gravitate towards because they make them "feel good" and reduces their stress. Is this our innate wisdom directing us towards activities that allow us to process life events and maintain our wellbeing? I believe we have a natural drive toward wellness - but we override that by prioritising the other things, and we get hooked by thoughts and feelings that tell us we should be "doing something constructive" and not spending our time on such frivolous pursuits. Our minds tells that we must always be productive to be "good enough". Alternatively, we may scroll through Facebook or binge watch Netflix as feel we should "do something" but don't know where to start or lack the necessary motivation....
These expressive pursuits are all productive - they produce balanced, grounded, resilient human beings.
Can we add more of them to our lives?
Not as "work" but as a way to:
- express our thoughts and feelings
- express our hopes and dreams (and our hopes and dreams for our children)
- express our grief, longing and loss
- process our history and design our future
- connect to our special people
- calm our bodies and our brains
- make sense of our lives
- notice the good, the bad and the ugly in life
- connect to nature and our special places
- take time for ourselves
- achieve a state of "flow"
- model to our children a healthy stress management technique
- link and share with others
- create a Community of caring
These activities could be done individually, as families, as groups, as a Community. All we need is shared understanding that it is about the process - not the product - and a physically, emotionally and culturally safe environment that is supportive and respectful of all involved.
This does not take away from the need to address historical trauma at the base level of the pyramid but it provides us with an immediate way forward at an individual, family and Community level - while we raise awareness and support for doing things differently in the longer term. These strategies can help us manage our stress, increase our emotional regulation skills, and generally keep us on track so we can be helpful to others.
It's beginning to sound a lot like self-care - shared with others.......
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