If you have ever been near glitter, then you know that stuff gets EVERYWHERE! Little specks of light that you continue to find in the oddest locations, time and time again. People have even found the stuff, years later. I don’t know about you, but trauma kind of feels like it. How the effect of living through trauma can touch everything, multiple people, and then years later you get reminded of it.
The Event
A dear family friend had a family member live through a traumatic event recently. (Note: everyone is safe and okay.) When I was told about what had happened, my mind thought about all of the people that were affected by this event. Because, although this happened to one person, the impact hit many. The single person that lived through this, has the full weight of the trauma. But all the family members that they are close with now bear weight of the trauma. Add in the close friends of this person, friends of the family members, and so on.
No one understands
When we live through events of our lives, it is easy to assume that no one else understands the effect it has on us. Because they are not us living through it. But they are still marked by the thoughts and feelings of having someone close to them live through trauma. Let me give an example. When I was a teenager, my oldest brother was in a car accident with a friend of his. My brother was not driving, but he was hurt the most. He even ended up in the hospital for 3 days. The trauma my brother went through, I would not understand. But the effect of having my brother who is close to me get hurt while in a car, pulled me into my own anxiety. Scared for him, but just as scared to avoid the same fate.
Different kind of impact
Every day we live our lives and so many of us feel so alone from the challenges and trauma we face. No one person will understand 100% of the time how we feel as we walk through each day. But that does not mean there are not others affected. If you have family, friends, or anyone that you are close to, they too feel something from the events in your life. Through the worry and fear for their loved ones, can build in their minds.
This is where seeking help, and especially professional help, can make a difference. The single person that lives through the traumatic event, should really consider talking to a therapist as they are more prone to experiencing PTSD. The close family members, like parents, siblings, and any others they may be living with, should also consider reaching out. The anxiety and fear of losing a loved one plus the possible depression or “survivor’s guilt” can also take hold.
Behavioral Effect
But there is one more piece to the “trauma glitter” that I have not mentioned yet. That is the new actions and behaviors now exhibited by those most affected. I don’t know about you, but when I go through an event in my life that is significant, my behavior towards the world changes. Because it is not just my thoughts and feelings that are impacted, but my actions are too. Losing loved ones too soon in our lives can make a person question, react in a bitter way, and even shut down around those that are happier.
Trauma is so much like glitter. Touching our lives from our thoughts and feelings to our actions. Then reaching out to our loved ones and all of those in the world that know us. Constantly reminding, showing up at the strangest times, and never fully going away. It is only with some love and guidance of a strong support system, we can hopefully see the glitter start to get washed away little by little.
Love you all!
Enjoy this video.
With great warmth,
