Sharon Belshaw is the CEO of Clinical of Break the Silence, a charity working with people who have experienced sexual trauma. She also has a private practice working with not only people who have experienced trauma but a variety of issues. She works with adolescents and adults and is studying for her Doctorate in Psychological Trauma.
Our lives can be hugely impacted by external events, locally, nationally, and globally. Day to day, we witness many changes and conflicts, both within our communities and through the media. Our access to global events has become so immediate that there is no distance. Nothing feels far away. While this increases our awareness and understanding of what is happening, it can also be terrifying and unsettling.
The uncertainty of war and shifting political landscapes creates an overwhelming sense of losing control over our lives and how we lead them. Planning for the future can feel pointless, even after the pandemic. These feelings and worries are stored in our bodies and affect our emotions and behaviors toward each other.
Fiona Dunkley’s organization, FD Consultants, supports the humanitarian sector, mental health charities, emergency first responders, content moderators, and journalists. Essentially, anyone whose work exposes them to traumatic material. This service is especially crucial for those helping others in communities worldwide. With instability and uncertainty, people often do not feel safe physically or psychologically. The impact on organizations, individuals, and communities can have a ripple effect.
What can we do to navigate uncertainty?
Fiona Dunkley’s book, Psychosocial Support for Humanitarian Aid Workers (2018), includes an excellent chapter on self-care and covers significant trauma awareness, which can be incredibly helpful.
Additionally:
Recognizing that we are all affected by events beyond our control and talking to others about it.
Asking for and receiving support. This does not need to be therapy but can involve a relationship that is therapeutic.
Using previous coping strategies. Each of us has our own methods that work.
Reminding ourselves that this reflects the current state of the world, not a personal weakness in struggling with life’s challenges.
As we navigate uncertainty, our paths may be bumpy, requiring us to change course or pace. But this is not our final destination. It is just part of the journey.
Dunkley, F. (2018). Psychosocial Support for Humanitarian Aid Workers: A Roadmap of Trauma and Critical Incident Care. Routledge Focus on Mental Health.
Read more from Sharon Belshaw
Sharon Belshaw, CEO-Clinical of Break the Silence
Sharon Belshaw CEO-Clinical of Break the Silence and Psychotherapist, works with people who have experienced trauma, loss and anxiety. She also supports staff who have experienced vicarious trauma through their work. She has written and published articles on autism and sexual abuse awareness for parents, supporting vulnerable women in maternity services and sexual abuse awareness.
