Break The Cycle

This week has left me with a sense of bewilderment. On the one hand I feel an enormous sense of love. I see so many talented minds increasingly sharing the truth for justice. This includes former Prime Ministers, #HealingTrauma

current politicians, journalists, teachers, medical experts, lawyers, professors, scientists, healers, poets, artists, adventurists, observers and many more loving and passionate Australians.

On the other hand, the Morrison Government makes no sense to me in the 21 Century. Are they trying to gain or lose voters? It seems they will lose Australian women who still feel unsafe and unheard. Older Australians in an increasing Aged Care crisis.

First Nation Australians who still experience pages of ongoing human rights abuse. Australians living below the poverty line in a housing crisis and welfare not enough to survive. Australians with a disability and unclear future of NDIS.

Australians who value Medicare. Australians who asked for an effective Covid-19 strategy, including appropriate quarantine facilities, to carry on with life. Stranded Australians who were abandoned abroad. Indian Australians who were left for dead in their darkest hour.

Australians who want Tharnicaa, Kopika, Priya and Nades sent home to Biloela. Australians who want to reform broken systems, like our Refugee System or Criminal Justice System, that perpetuate racism, prejudice, division, trauma, addiction, poverty, homelessness, violence, crime and suicide.

Sensible and compassionate Australians, who want humane, lawful, trauma informed, evidence based systems, for increasingly unpredictable times. Australians who genuinely want to tackle climate change, the greatest existential crisis.

Australians who have shifted from self-esteem (i.e. the obsession with being special and above average; more/less, never enough; competition via “Survival of the Fittest” leaving others behind to die) to self-compassion (i.e. collaboration via kindness, common humanity and mindfulness; “Enlightenment”; you are enough, #YouBelong).

Whether we are actively involved or have absolutely no idea, this is the majority. A majority that consists of some extraordinarily talented minds. How many Australians have no idea that right now you are fighting for their lives? How many refugees are thankful you exist?

How many Indian Australians know you consider them as family? How many children, like Tharnicaa and Kopika, will learn one day, you only wanted what’s best for them? How many elders know you want them to feel valued, respected and dignified, before they die?

Even if millions of Australians are unaware of increasingly traumatic and divided times this does not take away the level of regard, from so many walks of life, fighting for their lives. It genuinely blows my mind. So I just wanted to say thank you for being you. Thank you for sharing what you have learnt with me.

Thank you for letting me be me and for letting me share what I have learnt with you. I do hope we end unnecessary injustice to prevent ill health, trauma, addiction, violence and suicide. I do hope one day Australians, and friends from lands across the seas, feel without question, safe, accepted and connected here.

More than anything else, I hope that every life experiences a sense of love and belonging. This only requires insight and the choice to break the cycle: the negative operation of power. I hope Australia can be the change that is required so that all life can thrive.

Now you know the power of Trauma Informed Care. Let’s turn this framework into a mindset for personal, social and political change. If you are unable to, you might need help first, to get safe or become ‘unstuck’ from trauma. Reach out for trauma informed care. #YouBelong

With love,

Dr Louise Hansen
Psychologist
PhD in Psychology
Human Rights Activist

#HealingTrauma #Justice4Australia #YouBelong

Trauma Informed World was inspired by Kopika and Tharnicaa; two faces that remind us everyday of Australia’s cruel refugee system. One of many systems in Australia that remind us of the negative operation of power. #HomeToBilo

You can listen my talk with Dr Cathy Kezelman AM, President of Blue Knot Foundation on my own healing journey, training and study and how it has informed my work and advocacy for a trauma informed world here:

Australia’s National Helplines and Websites:

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/national-help-lines-and-websites

To provide the best information possible, Beyond Blue has listed national helplines and external services. All services linked to Beyond Blue are reviewed before they are posted.