welcome to this site--a space for people in activist communities who have faced trauma in actions, people who want to learn about trauma recovery and other generally interested folks. this site was established quickly to get info out to all the people who were assaulted by the police during actions against the ftaa and has grown daily since then. we want to explore issues of mental health as they relate to activist communities--including political trauma, ptsd, dissociation, burnout and how to create healing spaces to work through trauma and sustain the important work we do.

a letter from helene, with important info on grief counselling:

thanks again basil, your words are very healing and supportive.

a few random thoughts on additions to your postings: writing is very powerful, very cheap therapy and i encourage folks to write, dreams, thoughts, flashbacks, memories of the event.

in this case, there will be memories of solidarity and friendship and courage as well. protesters who are volunteering to be involved are committed to ideas of justice, etc and reconnecting with their purpose and the meaning of the event is important.

also, following up with their affinity group members is very important, mutual support and aid need to continue past the event. the medical monitor for the afinity group would be the likely candidate for facilitating the follow up. i will pass this on to my son who served that role in this action.

an anecdote: in 1993 at the beginning of the genocidal madness in rwanda i did some activism and educating and calling and writing to get anyone to listen and do something to intervene. in the course of my networking i was put in touch with a young rwandese man wwho was a grad student in sacramento (i live in chico, ca) he grew up amongst the ruling calss of the nation, his father, uncles etc were high placed officials. he was watching massacres etc on tv, seeing the faces of his family friends both as murderers and victims. needless to say, he was very traumatized.

we began talking by phone and i ended up doing greif counseling with him, he was in so much pain and so far away from home that he didn't rezalize that he was grieving and mourning, i listened, reflected and named the phenomena with him and we continued to talk for several weeks. he felt absolutely helpless. i listened and cared and was simply there for him.

then he went on the internet and created an international network of rwandese exiles who were also in great pain. he realized there really was something he could do, he testified before congress re: the situation in his homeland. some time later he was invited to speak at chico state at a class on genocide and i got to meet him for the first time in person. he gave me a big hug and introduced me as the person who "helped him to stand" when his world was collapsing in blood and death. i was honored to say the least. i know i didn't do anything special, i was just being a human being.

another idea out of my experience this past week is some sort of communication network, support network for parents of youthful activists who are worried sick about their precious children facing massive, meta fascistic police brutality. talk about anxiety!

thank you for your persistent reminders to take care of myself, very good advice. i am very lucky as i have incredibly supportive family, coworkers, friends, religious community (jewish). i consider my self very wealthy in friends, and loving loving family.