Genuine Recovery Sobriety Institute [GRSI] symbolizes spiritual evolving and gaining spiritual knowledge, as well as moving towards spiritual enlightenment. It also symbolizes success, achievements, knowledge, studying, teaching, and education.

Life is suffering.

Guatama Buddha

That statement is ever more evident in todays world as it was when the Buddha exclaimed it 2,500 years ago. Everyone has experienced some form of trauma.

Pain is inevitable and suffering is optional if we choose to accept our circumstances and move forward in our own process.

What is trauma?

Merriam-Webster defines trauma as an injury (such as a wound) to living tissue caused by an extrinsic agent b: a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury c: an emotional upset.

It’s important to recognize that trauma is not only an event that happened to us. Trauma is also what happened inside us.

Even though we need to be aware of our language, interpretations, definitions and cultural sensitivities to the words we choose; WORDS have impact to build or destroy.

How did we internalize the event? What associations did our brains link to the event. What belief structures were reinforced or destroyed.

Did you numb the pain emotionally, psychologically or spiritually by avoiding feelings all together?

We’re your coping mechanisms to indulge in alcohol or other drugs?

Genuine Recovery Sobriety Institute defines of Trauma Informed Care as a program, organization, system in defining the event, experience, and effect in the workforce both singular and complex or interpersonal violence (violation).

As a Peer Support Specialist, we can integrate the principles of Trust, Responsibility, Compassion and Accountability as governing behaviors to adopt for ourselves.

Many people realize, react, respond, based on our actions AND the MEANING we derive from any experience.

The word empowerment has many connotations as do other words.

Empowerment is based in trustworthiness. Trustworthiness is based on trust which involves two characteristics: Character and Competence.

When implementing Trauma Informed Care (TIC) the questions we ask of our peers and the policies, practices, culture and environment has a significant impact in moving forward towards meeting trauma, reframing it when it happens, and integrating the experience so the individual(s) in the organization is empowered.

Character can be defined as maturity, integrity and abundance mentality.

Competence is technical competence, conceptual competence and interdependency. These principles are important to realize for individual and organizational change.

Most who are traumatized instantly define the event as one of victimhood, co-dependency, and lack.

These are the complete opposite of what can be achieved when we view peers as valid, worthy, respected and empowered.

Even unfathomable to admit in experiencing trauma is that we are responsible in how we interpret the meaning to ourself.

In a spirit of humility, compassion, open mindedness, care, and belief in what’s possible in spite of the trauma, can move a person beyond the experienced event.

As a Peer Support Specialist, it’s important to validate a persons experience through gentle or direct motivational listening and interviewing. Whenever possible suggesting another alternative to view the challenge or problem can provide a new path to recovery.

Never discount someones feelings because they are real. The interpretation of the event is important to recognize because it is the belief that is governing the emotional response.

Recognize that trauma and toxic stress are intertwined in the wiring of the pre-frontal cortex.

Engaging in an atmosphere of trust, one can establish an environment of win-win agreements. By providing guidelines, resources, accountability and consequences, a peer can shift a persons perception and therefore reality or paradigm.

Through servant leadership and trusting environment are two ways to create and build self-esteem, self-worth, relationship, respect, acceptance, collaboration, which will give the individual(s)choice and opportunity for skill.

Trauma is unique to every individual so always be careful when using phrases like ‘systematic racism, systematic oppression’ as words which only divide people and NOT unite them.

Until one can accept the condition (whatever history injustices have occurred); can a person be empowered to become a victor over trauma.

It is difficult, but doable.

We all have a unique story to tell and there are many who have overcome trauma and lived to tell about it; to inspire others and shatter the illusions of past conditioning.

Man/Woman is responsible for the meaning of any situation; therefore as a specialist we will encourage others to draw out and discover a meaningful meaning out of life’s suffering.

Responsible Integrity is a solution

—-ooOoo—-

M.S.