As I wrote on Facebook, this was so helpful for me as a memoirist and as a teacher of memoir; there's clarity and compassion here. Could you help me with a question? I once taught memoir writing in a women's prison. I'd taught the same course in a men's prison, and even though their essays were very moving, I was able to be the sensitive and professional editor I wanted to be. With the women, I was a wreck. Their stories of being raped, assaulted, abused as children shook me to the core. (I should add that we didn't read work aloud in either class due to the presence of corrections officers who could use what they wrote against them.) I'd never heard of secondary trauma, and I felt guilty about feeling trauma from reading about it. Have you written about dealing with secondary trauma as an editor? Many thanks.
This is a meaningful contemplation. I'm vulnerable in the presence of those reporting suicidal ideation. It sounds like you experienced the sensation of being a lightning rod for those women's traumas and corresponding feelings of shame, rage, grief, loss... Like therapists do, we need rituals and practices to process, integrate, or dispel these transmissions. I use nature immersion (earthing with my bare feet, touching trees with both hands and discharging energy, breathing deeply fresh air and nature smells, and even vocalizing in nature; or just cultivating awe, wonder, and joy as a counterbalance to the anger and grief). I would also recommend keeping a process journal expressly for reflections after teaching or facilitating. These become more valuable to look back on as we get older. To see who we were at each stage is illuminating as we grow and evolve. A metta prayer, "May all beings everywhere be healthy, safe, and free," gives me a bit of healing. When we feel fragmented, practices that cultivate wholeness and acceptance help. I think I've posted about monkey mind once, and I'll probably reference it again. I was taught the signs to look for and the remedies. Having someone to talk to about what you experienced is important. Some anchor in optimism while we're hearing trauma stories helps, so I would recommend that you take some time now to write about what anchors you in optimism. Return to it when you're feeling fried, triggered, or sad. Right now I'm extending a prayer for those incarcerated women. We do the best we can. Women's circles are so powerful! Thank you, Elizabeth, for reading and commenting.
As I wrote on Facebook, this was so helpful for me as a memoirist and as a teacher of memoir; there's clarity and compassion here. Could you help me with a question? I once taught memoir writing in a women's prison. I'd taught the same course in a men's prison, and even though their essays were very moving, I was able to be the sensitive and professional editor I wanted to be. With the women, I was a wreck. Their stories of being raped, assaulted, abused as children shook me to the core. (I should add that we didn't read work aloud in either class due to the presence of corrections officers who could use what they wrote against them.) I'd never heard of secondary trauma, and I felt guilty about feeling trauma from reading about it. Have you written about dealing with secondary trauma as an editor? Many thanks.
This is a meaningful contemplation. I'm vulnerable in the presence of those reporting suicidal ideation. It sounds like you experienced the sensation of being a lightning rod for those women's traumas and corresponding feelings of shame, rage, grief, loss... Like therapists do, we need rituals and practices to process, integrate, or dispel these transmissions. I use nature immersion (earthing with my bare feet, touching trees with both hands and discharging energy, breathing deeply fresh air and nature smells, and even vocalizing in nature; or just cultivating awe, wonder, and joy as a counterbalance to the anger and grief). I would also recommend keeping a process journal expressly for reflections after teaching or facilitating. These become more valuable to look back on as we get older. To see who we were at each stage is illuminating as we grow and evolve. A metta prayer, "May all beings everywhere be healthy, safe, and free," gives me a bit of healing. When we feel fragmented, practices that cultivate wholeness and acceptance help. I think I've posted about monkey mind once, and I'll probably reference it again. I was taught the signs to look for and the remedies. Having someone to talk to about what you experienced is important. Some anchor in optimism while we're hearing trauma stories helps, so I would recommend that you take some time now to write about what anchors you in optimism. Return to it when you're feeling fried, triggered, or sad. Right now I'm extending a prayer for those incarcerated women. We do the best we can. Women's circles are so powerful! Thank you, Elizabeth, for reading and commenting.
Thank you, Michelle.
There is so much to learn here. This material is helping me understand the roadblocks I face -- as a writer AND an editor.
Thank you for reading.