Trauma is Political
Whether we like to admit it or not, trauma is inherently political. The policies and decisions made by governing bodies can significantly influence the prevalence and impact of trauma in different communities. In this episode of A Trauma-Informed Future, host, Katie Kurtz delves into the political nature of being human, especially in the context of an upcoming pivotal election in the United States. We discuss how the human experience, trauma, and wellness are intrinsically political, and how trauma-informed care calls for active participation, even in challenging domains such as politics. As a takeaway, listeners are encouraged to recognize the political roots of trauma and integrate this understanding into their trauma-informed practice for more intentional, mindful action.
Referenced in this episode:
Episode 6 with Crystal Whiteaker on how are values are meant to be felt by others
Episode 16 on 5 ways to show up and lead during collective trauma
Show Transcript:
Katie Kurtz (she/her): Hi everyone and welcome back to A Trauma-Informed Future podcast. I'm your host, Katie Kurtz. Today is a little bit of a short but important podcast where we're going to be talking about the political nature of being human. The time of the release of this podcast is October of 2024. We're a few weeks out before a very pivotal and potentially life-changing election here in the United States. And if you don't live in the United States, I know you're aware of it because the world is watching us.
This is a topic I've talked about many times before, and I'll actually reference episode 16, which was also released about a year ago this time about how do we show up and lead during times of collective trauma. I wanted to spend today to talk a little bit about how being human is political, how trauma is political being trauma informed is political wellness. . And why that is.
And I [00:01:00] want to invite you, if you, start and you're like, ah, You get a little cringy, got a little uncomfortable. I want us to practice the pause here. Just take a moment and notice with curiosity over judgment, where that lands in your body and , where is it drived from?
Because oftentimes we think of being political. It's not something people often want to be, or enjoy because of the divisive nature. Politics has become more and more in our culture and that it can be really challenging. There's a lot of strong feelings. It's a highly emotional time. And there's charge behind it and that charge can often make us reactive.
We know when one person or people are reactive, it can often create a ripple effect. And then we're then we're just reacting. But if we pause and get curious and slow down, we have time to be responsive and we can listen [00:02:00] and we can integrate. And so I invite you if this topic makes you a little cringy if it makes it feels sticky. If it feels messy, if you notice your jaw clenching or your shoulders rising to your ears, take a breath with me.
And this is short, but meaningful especially if you're here than you are interested, or you have experienced trauma and you are committed or curious, or maybe already engaged in trauma informed care, and this is. Something we need to be naming and discussing and in the work.
Trauma is political because of the systems we exist in these policies and decisions made by people and governing bodies, significantly influence the prevalence and impact of trauma to different people and different communities.
We live in community systems. We vote and government systems. We go to school and education systems. We have social systems, [00:03:00] faith-based systems. We exist in systems.
So when we think of trauma, oftentimes people are just thinking about an individual person's trauma without thinking about the greater context. In which we exist in which they exist in which we exist in.
We know that certain types of events and environments, most notably, any type of violence in any form can inherently be traumatic. Because it's threatening our safety and when we are threatened, Or directly harmed. Our nervous system responds accordingly. And when we witness violence. It can also imprint us as well.
Systemic trauma is when people leaders, politics, policy within the systems give rise to and maintain harm towards individuals and groups of people. So we know. Most notably, these can be racism, capitalism, religious trauma, educational trauma, community violence, et cetera. [00:04:00] The context of these systems and institutions create events and environments and experiences that directly and indirectly cause harm towards individuals and groups of people.
So even if the systems were designed with good intentions to help people. The impact may have caused harm to individuals or harm towards cultures of people. And we exist in systems we live, we work, we worship play, learn exist in all of these different types of social systems. Which are governed by policies.
So we can think of, for example, in our current culture, we have a lot of different policies and laws and politicians who are trying to remove access to gender affirming care. We see people who are houseless, being policed and we know houselessness is inherently traumatic because it's our basic needs, such as safety, housing, food, water and when those things are in jeopardy or taken it away. [00:05:00] They can be inherently traumatic.
All of these things where we live, work, worship, play, learn. are political, because they are governed by policies and people create these policies and they impact us. And they're designed to give rise to some who may have advantages or privileges and not to others, which creates a power dynamic.
Therefore systemic trauma may not impact all of us directly. And like I just said, Some of it even may benefit people, but it does involve all of us because we make up these systems.
We see systemic barriers being created and specific conditions being created. We see politicians yielding rhetoric that is misinformation to generate fear and beliefs. And to create further divide.
When we think about healthcare that is rooted in policy and politics. When we think about our wellness, Our [00:06:00] bodies are literally on the ballot this November in the United States. And in some states there are multiple policies and things happening where it doesn't get more personal than that.
When we think of trauma being the lack of consent of autonomy agency self-determination and then we look at the policies and the politicians who are driving those policies. Where is autonomy. Agency consent being taken or stripped away or limited.
We may not want to be political or get political, but the reality is it is political, we're human. And so it is, and I want to acknowledge for some it's more than others, again, depending on how those policies and contexts impact you. So it's so important to recognize the political roots of trauma. And how we can work towards integrating this into our trauma informed lens so that we can be more mindful, we can be more [00:07:00] intentional and we can take action.
Policies again, govern the social context and systems we exist in, and that all informs how our nervous systems are wired, how we show up. And how we relate. And it influences the choices we make.
Our bodies, our identities, our lived experiences, our trauma. Healing and health. It's all political. Trauma-informed care is not a passive practice. It does not debate people's humanity. It is not neutral. It's a choice, even when it feels uncomfortable. I hope you choose it anyways.
Trauma-informed care is a culture shock because it goes against so much of how our culture works right now, and it can feel like a culture shock to receive this care because we're not used to it. It's out of the norm. Yet it's so nurturing and beautiful and regenerative.
And please find out where you are registered to vote. Make a voting plan and get out whether it's [00:08:00] by absentee ballot, early voting or day of the election.
Voting is trauma informed care.
{{{Find your voting location here}}}
We cannot use the same tools that cause trauma to prevent, mitigate, or heal it.
If you're listening to this, the reality is we probably have some things in common, a commitment. To practicing trauma-informed care personally and professionally, a desire to participate in ongoing learning to strengthen your practice. Holding shared values of integrity, connection, accountability, curiosity, compassion. Et cetera. And this belief that we're all playing a role co-creating a trauma-informed future.
So a reminder as you move through this time, this liminal space between now and this election to continue to practice that pause where you can to slow things down, to take care of your nervous system. Extra nurturing and care and reminder that resilience is relational.
So how can you find safe healthy, nurturing relationships with people, [00:09:00] with nature with animals, whatever it may be to really build that capacity. Where can you strengthen your boundaries during this time. And where can you be in community with folks? There's lots of different ways to show up in the world right now.
I'm gonna link in the show notes are really helpful tool and to learn from is Deepa Iyer. And they created the social change ecosystem map. And this looks at equity, liberation, justice, solidarity in the mental and all these different roles we can play. Not all of us need to be frontline responders. Some of us are the visionaries, the caregivers, the disruptors, the healers. And finding our role and identifying the actions to take.
I am going to link that in the show notes to check out because oftentimes we think of this all or nothing. Mentality when it comes to this work and it's a long game, we need to be finding ways to sustain in this long game. [00:10:00] And right now, Our. Energy can be quickly evaporated. When we are witnessing so much tragedy when we're holding on just so much fear and unknown. And so finding ways to connect and be in community is so key right now. A reminder if you're looking for that community. Our Trauma-Informed Leadership Studio is here and where we gather. Multiple times a month. It gives you the opportunity to honor your capacity while also sustaining through community care.
And also just remind, remember that trauma-informed care is a choice. And it can be uncomfortable and there can be grief with integrity As my colleague and friend Madison,Morrigan always says there's grief with integrity. But if this approach aligns with your values, our values, aren't nice words. We put on our website, our values as Crystal Whitaker shares so beautifully with us in early episodes of this podcast are how we live out loud. People should feel [00:11:00] your values through your actions. And again, this is a long game and it can be hard.
So wherever you're finding yourself today, I hope you can take a care, take some breaks, check in with people. And honor yourself and your capacity as you move through this time. . So be sure to take a care of yourself. And know that I'm in this with you until next time.
