Before I get to the question, there’s something I want to touch on that I hope can become a co
Before I get to the question, there’s something I want to touch on that I hope can become a common practice: getting people’s *consent* before opening up to them about our pain. Trauma can complicate things and there may be times when we can’t stop the words from coming out, but for those times when we are able to, it’s important to check in with someone before having discussions with them about serious subject matter. We never know what someone might be going through in their lives, or how our story might trigger them, or how they simply may not be in the right place that day to listen and hold space. Not only does this help us to not negatively impact their wellbeing, but it’s a safety measure for ourselves as well; opening up and talking about our trauma requires making ourselves vulnerable and if we don’t receive the support we need and deserve through that process, it can be retraumatizing. It’s a good practice to ask someone, “Are you in the right mental space to hear this right now?” and to be clear about the type of support you are hoping to receive before talking about your experiences.Regarding the question posted here, what happened when you first told someone your story? Why did you decide to talk about it? Who did you tell? How did they respond and how did you feel? Please comment below if you are comfortable contributing to the conversation. -- source link
#consent#emotional support#trauma recovery#emotional intelligence#disclosing#speak out