A Gentle Trauma Reminder
You, your family and your friends are experiencing a response to a collective trauma.
In your communications (online and in person), remember that people are responding from different trauma responses: Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn, Flop
If you or others are being argumentative, defensive or combative, that may be a Fight Response.
If you or others are being avoidant or dismissive, that may be a Flight response.
If you or others are being apathetic or immobile, that may be a Freeze response.
If you or others are being overly agreeable or apologetic, that may be a Fawn response.
If you or others are walking around like a zombie, feeling disconnected and on automatic, that may be a Flop response.
Just pause before you respond and consider what trauma response the person you are communicating with might be in, in that moment. And consider what response you are in, as well.