Post 1. A Gentle Invitation for the Days Ahead

For the Annunciation community-- and anyone else who has experienced or is connected to someone who has experienced trauma. 

Estimated read time: 4-6 minutes. 

If you want the 1 minute version, scroll to the bottom. 

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I’m so glad you’re here and I wish we were meeting under different circumstances. 

These initial posts are motivated by my hope to provide care for the Annunciation community grounded in what may be helpful in real-time based on my experiences within this community. 

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Time Feels Different Right Now.

As I write this, we are 5 days out. Time can feel both slow and fast in the aftermath of traumatic events. There’s a reason for this:

• The "time-keeper" part of your brain gets assigned a new job for the purpose of survival during a traumatic event and it needs help to be reprogrammed to the present moment.

The community has rallied and there are many resources (thank goodness). Sometimes too much info can make you feel frozen or stuck. You may not know what you need,  or what your child, partner, or neighbor needs—and in this moment, that’s okay.

My hope for the first days of these posts is to help bring your brain’s time-keeper back online to the present moment. To help you remember that the terrifying event that happened on Wednesday, has happened and is over.

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Your Brain’s Response

Even though the event is over, your brain may feel like it’s still locked into that moment or that day.

• Original sights, sounds, and body sensations may feel like they’re happening in real time, even though they're not.

• Parts of you may feel scared, numb, or something else entirely.

Your brain is not doing anything wrong. It's probably still stuck in an over-active and overly-reactive state, which is what brains do when overwhelmed.

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I invite you to do one thing that may help your brain and body notice the present:

1. Place your hand somewhere on your body that feels okay or even comforting.

2. Place your other hand on something around you that feels okay—like a soft blanket, the grass, a wall, or someone you care about.

3. Say to yourself—or together with your family:

    “That specific event has happened and is over. I invite my brain to notice it is over too.”

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1 minute version:

The event has happened and is over. It’s normal to feel scared, numb, or overwhelmed. Your brain may still feel “stuck” in the moment—that’s okay.

Here’s something that can help your brain and body notice the present:

1. Place a hand on your body somewhere that feels okay or comforting.

2. Place a hand on something around you that feels safe—a blanket, the grass, a wall, or someone you care about.

3. Say to yourself—or together with your family: “That specific event has happened and is over. I invite my brain to notice it is over too.”

   
   

   You can also follow along on instagram for a matching posts/videos!

   
   

With Care,

Dr. Meghan Clifford & Scout

Scout, in her happy place, the water.

Please note: The information shared in this blog is for educational and supportive purposes only. It does not establish a therapeutic relationship and is not a substitute for professional mental health care.