A new buzz - Political Betrayal Trauma

Having more reason, than time to focus on the myriad of feelings that comes with civil service and corruption, my brother's prison sentence lends me time to ponder, with 14 seemingly endless years and counting . . .

A common emotion rolls through each never-ending session; roars up, entwining with crushing force; surfaces again. It is absolutely underlying, cloying, persistent throughout. I find it in people and circumstance that still, years later, I'm forced to consider. It is the hardest issue to confront, reason enough to start notebooks, diaries or blogs, no doubt, the stuff made of madness throughout. It's an emotion, and also a human act.
It is called betrayal.

Doctors of the mind can now explain to us that 'betrayal trauma' occurs when the people or institutions we depend on for survival violate us in some way. Repetitive betrayal by people we depend upon, leads to chronic conditions running the gamut from physical to emotional dysfunction. Dr. Jennifer Freyd has written a number of books on it, and currently leads the Unniversity of Oregon's Psychology Department (as I shared in comments on Borderline Security, by Bill Conroy.

A new buzz word, few people have taken notice of yet is called "Political Betrayal Trauma." When I discovered it, I understood more, and was able, with people near and dear to me, to begin to "work through it." That includes for me, telling other people about it.

I cannot talk to my dead father about it. I take little comfort in usual notions about the dead, because my brother is in prison, and we can't talk, either. He reminds me that he is in a glass coffin, and I believe him. I'm thankful for understanding friends, and co-workers, and this online space to share my discovery.

Talk therapy is one way that people that suffer from "betrayal trauma" can get well, better. Some employee benefit packages might cover 'talk therapy' in the strict sense, but we don't have such at the November Coalition.

Betrayal isn't a friend, even if, constant companion, friends. The repugnant idea of a deliberate act of one human being against another, a double-cross, of perfidy -- an act of violating faith or allegiance; violation of a promise or vow, or of trust reposed; faithlessness; treachery -- has consequences! When it is a person, or an entire institution you have put your trust in that is the betrayer - they are not inconsequential consequences, either.

How much more damage is done? How much betrayal does a person endure -- before they can't endure it anymore? Less than we might think - when you are betrayed by a trusted source. That is what science is saying it about it.

I know that many good civil servants suffer from the trauma of political betrayal, when they are passed up for promotion for bad reason, know their co-workers are corrupt, when they succumb to apathy, etc & all. But they don't know why -- why one day they wake up --changed. Gone are abilities to develop healthy relationships, and they hate their work, and/or being exposed, subservient to the betrayers.

What follows Political Betrayal Trauma? It's quite a dismal list: Reclusive behavior, or too, too social -- compulsions; doing stupid things at work, on the line, that really make no sense at all; stop caring about people, places and things. Core changes in a person preclude taking Prosac, Aderol, or bribes. I'm so low, get me high behavior -- not every sick response to Political Betrayal Trauma -- is illegal. Others might have paralyzing depression. Many develop significant, serious organic disease. Why? Hurry researchers, hurry and tell us why!

Or, we can assist and insist that political betrayal and the trauma it causes civil servants subside.

I've taken hard to the notion that trust is a valuable thread in the weave of a healthy community, society, country and world.

In the workplace, where a person's very life can easily be on the line; in our government leaders -- do we absolutely need trust?

Probably more than we know . . .

Another successful therapy for Political Betrayal Trauma is activism. I discovered it by accident, when I began to entertain notions that victims could change their circumstances.

 If you are suffering endless political betrayal -- people, it's time to lead your leaders! Do some Talk Therapy and Organize!

Nora

The Book behind Nora's Callahan's Notebook: Borderline Security, by Bill Conroy
Prologue: http://www.narconews.com/Issue32/article893.html
Comments on Borderline Security (Including Nora's)
http://narcosphere.narconews.com/story/2004/2/18/6 3141/3732