Walking together: Healing and hope for Colombian refugees

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w a l k i n g t o g e t h e r 57 Most Colombian refugees will have experienced several, if not most of these different layers of trauma. Traumatic stress is the physical, mental or emotional response to having experienced traumatic events. These responses to the traumatic event are normal, and can be understood as coping mechanisms that trauma survivors use to get through difficult or traumatic situations. However, over time these responses - the symptoms or expressions of trauma - if maintained, become dysfunctional. For example if a person whose life is in danger wakes up frequently during the night, this trauma response/symptom may actually save her life by ensuring that she is constantly aware of what is going on around her and able to detect any potential danger. However, assuming this person is now in Canada and safe from danger, constant waking up throughout the night now serve no useful purpose - this trauma symptom has now become an inappropriate coping mechanism. Although it might seem illogical that trauma symptoms would continue or return after the survivor has arrived in a safe environment, the fact is they often do. Trauma symptoms often take time to go away, even when the survivor is no longer in immediate danger. When refugees move to a different country, they face many stressful life changes while at the same time the support systems that they had in place to help them cope in their home country are taken away. The stressful events of the transition may trigger earlier symptoms of trauma, causing those responses to show up again, even though they are no longer appropriate or needed. Despite the wide variety of ways in which humans respond to trauma, the same range of effects and responses is common to all kinds of traumas. 18 This means that if you have ever experienced a traumatic event, such as a life-threatening accident, a devastating storm or earthquake or a sudden death of a loved one, you may have experienced some of the same physical, emotional and social trauma responses as the refugee family has experienced. Nonetheless, it is very important to remember that when a traumatic event was premeditated and carried out by other human beings, which is the case for war and human rights abuses, the effects of the trauma tend to be more severe and longer lasting. Recognizing that responses to different kinds of trauma are similar can take some of the mystery out of talking about trauma and its effects while also helping us to empathize and to give more effective support. Since many of the responses or symptoms of trauma are “silent” and could easily go undetected it is important to listen and watch for both verbal and non-verbal signs of trauma. By learning what to look for, how to look for it, and how to respond you can be part of the process of restoration from trauma. Resilience is the capacity of individuals and communities to adapt, survive and bounce back in the midst of or after hardship and adversity. The term resilience comes from the fields of physics and engineering, and refers to elasticity - an ability to bend and stretch without breaking. Resilient people are able to return to equilibrium and a level of functioning the same as or greater than before a crisis, tragedy or trauma, and to live with hope and joy despite adversity. 18. Evelyn C. Lennon, MSW, MA. (2005) New Neighbours Hidden Scars, chapter 3 Healing the Hurt. Minneapolis, MN: The Centre for Victims of Torture, www.ctv.org
58 w a l k i n g t o g e t h e r Factors that contribute to resilience include the following: challenges and solve problems these in an appropriate way and hope. and social services. Something called “post-traumatic growth” has been observed in people who have survived traumas. Posttraumatic growth is evident in people that are not only able to reach a place of equilibrium and renewed life after trauma but also demonstrate profound and continued growth as a result of the trauma. The following sections will go into more detail about the effects that refugee trauma can have on the individual and the family, both personally and in relation to their new environment. we’ve also included tips on talking about trauma and promoting restoration and rebuilding life after traumatic events. “There are dates that I will never forget in my life. What happened to my son took place on my birthday - it’s very saddening to think that my boy had to go through such a terrible accident at his young age. When everything started was August 21. Every August 21 is hard now. It’s a date that you wish you didn’t remember. When we had to flee from our city. I still don’t feel like I’m completely healed. Things have gotten better but the effects are still there, the sadness. I think that with time the Lord is going to heal all of that.” - Laura
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Walking together: Healing and hope for Colombian refugees

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