Often these experiences stay with us for a while, if we experienced them ourselves or if we were witness to them. Sometimes we come home and pictures of these experiences flash again and again in our minds. We might feel empty and hollow all of a sudden, or terribly sad, or angry. We feel that we are not the same as before, anymore. Something has changed; we can't just get on with life as before. And yes, something has changed. We have gone through experiences that were threatening to us. It takes some time for our brains to process it and for our bodies and minds to recover. It might take a few hours or it might take a few months...

It is important to take our own time. It is like being ill, in the same way a physical wound needs time to heal, an emotional one does as well. Time to be gentle and patient with ourselves, to rest, to not be too demanding on ourselves. To accept that this is normal and it needs some time. Sleeping, having cups of tea, talking to friends, accepting support, taking care of ourselves and each other...

There is no quick answer to this problem, it has to do with the way our brain reacts to what we have experienced and it has to do with the way we deal with these emotions culturally. But it is important to know that there is nothing wrong with what we feel. A lot of people are or have gone through this. And what has happened to us is not our fault - they are the perpetrators. What is wrong is that we still have not managed to develop a culture where these reactions are accepted as normal and where we support each other through it.

Introduction to Post Traumatic Stress

Instances of brutality, even when not directly experienced, tend to have varying effects on different people. Whether you are injured physically or not, one can sustain "psychological trauma" as a result of bearing witness to situations of violence. It is thus imperative that activists take care of one another emotionally, as well as medically.

The condition most commonly affecting activists as a result of traumatic events, experienced or observed, is known as "post traumatic stress," or "critical incident stress." Symptoms include :

1. Re-experiencing the events (dreams/nightmares, obsessions, intrusive memories, 

    flashbacks, etc),

2. Avoidance (amnesia, substance abuse, self-isolation, etc),

3. Increased arousal (insomnia, irritability/outbursts, difficulty concentrating, etc).

These effects are not signs of insanity. You are not alone in experiencing them. The best known means for dealing with post traumatic stress include:

(1)   getting to a place that feels safe, and surround yourself with people with whom you are comfortable;

(2)   "processing" the experience, especially by telling the story or otherwise expressing the emotions surrounding the events which led up to your stress reaction.

Affinity groups should make a "critical incident stress debriefing" part of their standard routine following each and every day of action in the streets.

 For around 70% of people these symptoms disappear naturally within 4 - 6 weeks.  However, if the symptoms persist then it is advisable to seek support as it's unlikely to resolve by itself and may develop into a serious condition called as Post-Traumatic Stress "Disorder" (PTSD). PTSD is a medically accepted condition, but NOT a mental illness. It can develop months or years after the event. A variety of different ways to help are available 

Possible signs and symptoms of a traumatic stress reaction

www.activist-trauma.net