Content warnings DO NOT mean topics are completely off-limits.
Many of us are driven toward activism as a form of trauma mastery – to reclaim control over situations that continue to harm and disregulate us.
Warnings give us an opportunity to assess whether we’re too stressed to handle a certain topic, or have the energy to engage in a brave-space conversation. Giving each other a chance to consent, to delay, or to nope out of potentially retraumatizing situations.
Include a heads-up before talking about the following topics so we can brace ourselves:
- > Before disclosing our own traumatic experiences
- > Blood & guts, including details about medical procedures & needles
- > Childhood food neglect, food insecurity & famine
From a member:
“I think if folks begin to share a lot about their own trauma/abuse/child abuse/etc., a trigger warning would be nice.”
“I find that these spaces are often time for folks to be heard & listened to, which, of course means that the more comfortable folks are, the more that we hear about ALL THE THINGS!”
“Because of living with OCD and my super visual mind, this can be super triggering for me. When I’m providing peer support sessions, I’m aware it’s part of the job, so it’s helpful to know what’s coming :)”
4 comments
The group norm that is super important to me is “Acknowledge, welcome and make space for discomfort” and the one that makes things feel most accessible is “Replace judgment with curiosity.” Fear of judgment can really stop me in my tracks, so I can definitely list/share more easily when keeping this one in mind.
* listen/share (not list)
That’s insightful! I usually assume *I’m* the one being a judgemental asshat, but that’s a great point – if others know how curious I am about the stuff they do (particularly when I don’t understand it) I think it takes the bite out of the risk of showing up as our full selves and sharing our ideas and perspectives.
Another member chose “Cheerfully disagree” as a group agreement for this summer, and I just realized it’s right in line with the idea of replacing judgement with curiosity. ‘Cause both cheer and curiosity are linked to joy!
Just here to say I love these agreements, I agree, and I’m excited to show up with curiosity and lean into discomfort with the other folks here.