Isolation and the increased risk of social violence

In the first episode of Dr. Anna Baranowsky's radio show she explains how individuals can become isolated when they experience trauma, and the importance of reaching out to the community as a crucial part of recovery. The example highlighted is the "van attack" in Toronto, Ontario that occurred on April 23rd, 2018, and the community outpour of love and support in North York following that event. 'Traumatic isolation' can undermine our well-being, leading to loneliness, confusion, depression and anxiety. A crucial part of recovery is gentleness with yourself as there is no one quick-fix. Recovery is often a product of every day practices in turning down the volume of stress. Whether that involves exercising, yoga, meditation, - you name it - consistency is key! You also have to be reasonable and allow yourself the time to recover. It is a natural, evolutionary defense mechanism for the body to create a heightened response to incidents and it takes time to settle down. One of the most important buffers to this isolation is going out into the community and finding ways to connect. The Trauma Practice for Healthy Communities is a dedicated team that helps trauma survivors and their families find a safe place to land with facilitated group help support and resources. For more information about their programs you can visit traumapractice.org Sebastian Junger's book, 'Tribe', discusses how during periods of great trauma people can feel the most connected, but after the trauma subsides people can find great difficulty coming together, a challenge faced by returning veterans in modern society. Follow this link for more information or to purchase the book. Read the full blog https://traumapractice.org/toronto-van-attack/ This radio show was aired on Realityradio101.com on Thursday, May 31st, 2018.