Self-care a sensible priority

Although we have all heard many times that one needs to prioritize self-care if caring for others is to be sustainable, this piece brings it home in what I think is a very persuasive way. It does, however, state that "we can deal with just about anything!" So bear the previous post in mind! :)

Resilience is Universal… and Not Really

One part of being scientific-minded means being skeptical and contrarian. So I am going to challenge resiliency on our website dedicated to Resiliency.

A subtle premise of many unscientific resiliency workshops and trainings is that “Everyone is Resilient.” This myth finds itself in crisis against the real finding that some damage strikes very deep.

Childhood Trauma, the Neurobiology of Adaptation & Use-dependent Development of the Brain is a field-changing article in which Bruce Perry, et. al. argues that our brains (particularly young brains) cannot always be resilient. Brains can be malleable -- adapting to trauma in ways that only make sense in the context of horror. This malleability can account for the inexplicable and sometimes unsavory behavior of people who have been secretly affected by trauma.

The non-scientist (layperson) will enjoy reading paragraphs #2, #3 and then review the “Key Points” at the end of the article.

Resilience is Universal… and Not Really, Part II

Bruce Perry, MD, PhD, the lead author of the Childhood Trauma article referenced earlier, is a child psychiatrist and brain scientist at Baylor College of Medicine. I attended medical school at Baylor, and when Perry taught, his passion for preventing trauma and safeguarding children made a deep impression on us.

While resiliency should be bolstered in all reasonable and rational ways, we must keep another eye towards preventing traumatic stimuli; because bouncing back from every trauma may not be neuro-biologically possible. It is useful to know that traumatic stimuli -- even in the absence of a physical blow or injury -- induce a cascade of neurotoxic insults to brain tissue. Sometimes we can clear the toxin, and sometimes our coping skills are overwhelmed.

Equally important, if we believe that resiliency is possible for everyone, then we secretly judge those who do not demonstrate resiliency as weak or “not trying hard enough.” While resilience is of the utmost importance to pursue, we in the field should never confuse non-recovery from trauma as evidence of failed resilience.

Our duty in trauma work is to temper the discourse of resilience with the reality that some people do not recover. Prevention being the best medicine is why those of us who work in trauma recovery are indebted not only to appropriate law enforcement, but also to the champions of human, civil, and children rights.

This month it is 40 years since the MLK assassination

... but the Reverend Doctor's message lives on.

This month's edition of the Peace and Conflict Monitor www.monitor.upeace.org includes articles about the massive non-violent protests in Columbia and around the world last month (four million people), as well as a discussion of pacifism after 9/11, when war dissenters were accused of siding with the terrorists.

PLAYBACK THEATER PERFORMANCE

There will be a playback theater performance on the community's relationship to the formerly incarcerated this Thursday, April 10 at 7:30 pm at All Souls Unitarian Church, 1500 Harvard Street, NW, Washington, DC.
Playback is an improv theater form. I am excited not only about the topic but because it has been so long since I performed as an actor in Playback, which I love. If you are unfamiliar, join - chances are you will love it too! The Conductor for the evening is Gregory Ford.
-Atieno

conference on the use of story in organizations

I recommend this conference on the use of story and narrative in organizational settings.

Definitions of resilience

This piece on resilience describes it as having abundant reserves of centeredness, stamina, and creativity!