Due to the current pandemic, many people are facing intense personal traumas - friends or family members that are sick, food insecurity, financial insecurity, as well as hospital staff returning to work again and again with long hours and PPE shortages. These are serious issues, and those of us who are able need to help where we can, but there is also a need to address the underlying trauma affecting everyone - what is called “collective trauma”. Having constant fear for yourself and those near and dear to you along with social isolation wears on you mentally and physically sometimes at a conscious level, but also in a low-and-slow subconscious drain.
Chinese Medicine makes sense of the interplay of mental and physical health for the individual through the delicate balance of Jing, Qi, and Shen: physical essence, energy, and consciousness (the characters to the left). You cannot only take care of the physical form and expect a person to be truly healthy and vibrant. That is not to say that trauma care should be done right now, but that the situation we are all in needs to be acknowledged. To completely ignore the gravity of this pandemic is to create further damage to yourself in the form of self-doubt or judging - possibly for not being “productive” with your new found free time (if you’re not currently work-from-home). Attend to your immediate needs - do what you need to do to secure food and finances and ask for help when you need it. Don’t judge yourself for a messy house or eating frozen pizza for dinner instead of a gourmet health-boosting meal. Do what you can to keep your immune system up, but don’t worry if you skip your workout routine for a day, a week, or a month. Have a cry and eat chocolate and snuggle if that’s what you need on any given day. Understand that you may feel grief, or anger, and find healthy outlets for those emotions.
On days when you have more “spoons” (personal energy/mental health resources) - do what you can to keep things moving forward for yourself or your neighbors. If you have the skills and equipment to do so - sew masks to donate to your local hospital or check in with your local shelter to see if they need any donations of TP or personal items, or donate to food pantries. Meditate or go for a long walk. Go easy on yourself and those around you.
There will come a time after the immediate crisis and aftermath has passed that the collective trauma will need to be addressed. Returning to our “normal” lives may lead to long term mental and physical health effects. We will each have distinct ways to find this healing - some may seek therapy, a skilled massage therapist, spiritual community, acupuncture, a guided book, or some combination of a number of methods. One of my teachers, Tami Kent MSPT a holistic physical therapist, wrote her first book after seeing the same physical patterns of trauma in almost all of her patient’s bodies following 9/11. If you’re curious about diving into your own energetic and physical landscape, check out Tami’s book Wild Feminine (available online by link or for purchase in my office) and begin to make space for acknowledging and clearing out your own trauma. This book is primarily targeted to women*, but it is appropriate for all as we all have a balance of masculine and feminine within us.
Even while my clinic remains closed to follow non-essential business closure guidelines, know that I am still here to support you. Currently patients can reach out by email or phone for personalized recommendations, and those curious about what I do can reach out for a free consult where I may be able to offer general recommendations or a specific referral. While I am taking plenty of time to care for myself, I am also continuing to expand my treatment knowledge through reading and online continuing education classes so that I can be ready to serve you better than ever in clinic once it is safe for me to do so.
*I am still currently on the search for book recommendations targeted for non-binary or gender fluid individuals, as well as men. If you have a book that has impacted your life, please let me know.