I’ve mentioned a couple times recently that I’m re-reading “The Body Keeps The Score.” Of the books I’ve read in this space on trauma, MH, addiction, even suicide – how we’re impacted & how we can heal, nothing comes close to explaining the biology as well.
Our brains are like video cameras that are always on & take in what we see & experience. Our bodies then store our reactions to those very experiences. Depending on what they are – they impact our central nervous system – yes, but they also impact so many other parts of our bodies – headaches, GI problems, back pain, inflammation – the list goes on & on.
But one theme I keep coming back to, & am fascinated by, is that humans are hard-wired to be connected to groups or tribes. Before even reading this book, I was always so interested in how we relate to others.
Howard Stern has his “wack packers”…the Green Bay Packers have their “cheeseheads”…even when we watch tv shows there is “bachelor nation.” There’s something abt a shared experience that brings us identity & connection we yearn for.
With sporting events, even when we watch alone, we feel the rhythm of the crowd on TV…we see their jerseys & we may wear ours on the couch…when someone scores we may turn to social media to read or even add to the reactions. (This doesn’t mean some, socially, aren’t more comfortable staying to themselves…but typically a connection in some form, to something larger, is what we yearn for.)
And yet this book warns (& it’s maybe not so ironically the basis of our “5in5” face MH challenges rallying cry) that when the group/tribe we relate to is centered arnd a disorder name/label, it limits our healing resources.
“No one else knows what WE go through.” It’s tricky bc that makes us feel part OF a tribe…but it also closes us off to the help, sympathy, affection, understanding of others.
There are a LOT of ppl in this world, & times when we ALL need someone to lean on. When we believe we can ONLY relate to those w the EXACT same symptomatology, we close ourselves off to connections that can & want to help us heal. Practicing empathy, we can ALL relate & help – to one big tribe.