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Time and Trauma

 


Today I am thankful for stories; they are often the easiest teaching tool. 


The other day I had an interesting conversation with a social worker.  She complained that one of her patients was stuck at a certain year - 

let's say...

2008. 



This man talks about 2008 constantly.  He shares photos of 2008 and letters of 2008. 

I asked her, what happened that year? 

Well, three members of his family died.  His best friend died in front of his eyes.  His spouse died.  He lost his home.  

The man was wealthy.  

Sadly, the evil eye is real.  Covetousness is real.  The U.S. justice system enables abusive lawyers to swoop in and take control of the wealth of well-to-do elders.  There were fights over his assets**.  

The lawyers threw him out of his numerous homes. 

The man was then homeless while everything went through probate and the relatives fought over the estate.  

His wealth started to drain away. 

He rarely has food. 

Sadly, this is something I've seen numerous times through the years.  The worst case was one in which the conservators didn't take the guns.  The man shot himself in the head and passed away.  Taking control of his life was his final act. 

Trauma......

Trauma changes our concept of time. 

We get stuck in the year of trauma.  We go back to revisit it.  We want to understand why.  We want to fix it internally.  We want to understand that which is confusing.  We want to understand what is incomprehensible at first, while we are still dealing with the raw emotions. 


Sadly, we rarely understand the incomprehensible. Instead, we have to grow to accept it. 

The goal is to help the individual process the events and change the time in which he exists. 

That is the nature of trauma.  We get stuck in it. 

I'm sad that no one realizes that this man was traumatized.  

Right now, I'm stuck on the question of which cracker-jack box the social worker got her master's degree. 

Sigh - 

Trauma changes us. 

Be kind to each other.  For each of us is fighting a hard battle that few people see. 

**It's weird...I don't get out as much as I used to because of Covid.  I'm still meeting numerous people whose parents are caught in the trap of conservatorship with so-called "agencies" which steal the families' wealth.  I've met two individuals stuck in this mess where the involvement of a conservator is questionable at best.  

I'm not so stupid to think I can do something to control the problem.  I can, however, educate lawmakers. 

Maybe.....I should run for office? 

Divinity must want me to do something.  If I meet one more soul in this mess within the next year, I'll have to do something. 


Love you, 

S.  



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