Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and oppression

[sophiaserpentia]

Over the past few days I've been tagging the entries in my journal (I'm back to Nov. 2004 now, what a wonderful tool tags are!) and have noticed a pattern -- a few contentious journal entries aimed at Christianity and usually inspired by anti-queer agitation in the news, followed by a resolution not to let myself get drawn into posting divisive comments. Then a month (or even a week) later, I'm doing it again.

I've been wondering over the past few days whether it is possible to examine the question of power inequality without getting drawn into divisiveness. The prime examples often cited are from exemplary people -- MLK Jr. and Gandhi and a brave few who are able to speak about racial or sexual or religious inequality while remaining completely unflappable. They've set a standard of perfection and dignity which is admirable, but which sets the bar uncomfortably high for the rest of us to meet in a healthy way.

Then this morning it came together when a friend mentioned in a locked entry that even things like reading a newspaper can trigger a PTSD response -- fear and anxiety. I haven't been able to find online an article outlining a clear exposition of this link, but many times the advice given to people being treated for PTSD includes avoiding the news media.

I began to wonder if maybe PTSD makes oppression possible. If people of a given class are more likely than average to suffer from abuse, then a random person from that class is also more likely than average to respond with fear and anxiety to news about similar things happening to others in the same class.

Figures for the prevalence of depression in our society are estimated at 5-7%, with higher percentages for women than men. The one-year prevalance for generalized anxiety disorder is 3%, again with higher percentages for women than men. Compare this to the figure of over 40% of people in the GLBT community at any given time I cited a while back.

Now, depression statistics are not proof of PTSD, but they might be suggestive of it. Other evidence which I've cited before show very high percentages for major disruptive or traumatic abusive events in the lives of GLBT people. So it does not seem out of line to suppose that much of the depression or anxiety experienced by GLBT people is due to (mostly undiagnosed) PTSD.

One line of research has suggested a link between racism and PTSD response.

People who are victimized because of their race share an unfortunate legacy with victims of terrorism. Both suffer the effects of violence inflicted on them because of factors beyond their control—effects that are often both severe and chronic.

This is the contention of Chalsa Loo, Ph.D., a clinical research psychologist at the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder’s Pacific Islands Division. The center is a project of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

... She noted that her findings on the relationship of racism and PTSD are in line with those of studies done in the mid-1980s that showed that African-American Vietnam veterans showed more psychological problems and adjustment difficulties than Caucasian soldiers. She suggested that a major factor in the postwar problems experienced by African-American veterans may have arisen from guilt and rage related to emotionally identifying with the "devalued" and oppressed Vietnamese people they were fighting.

"This finding tells us that the personal experience of racism is a potent risk factor for PTSD," she stated, and one to which clinicians and researchers have rarely paid attention.

The message for psychiatrists, Loo suggested, is that clinicians who fail to account for and discuss possible race-related stressors with their non-Caucasian patients are potentially missing a major cause of PTSD symptoms. (from Race-Related Stressors Can Trigger PTSD)

The picture is starting to become clear. I noted above the higher depression and anxiety figures for women because the typical explanation is to suppose that there is something about women's biochemistry that makes them more prone to mental illness. In light of sexism, could it be that women are simply traumatized more often then men?

So, news of intolerance-inspired abuse spreads like fire through an oppressed community and generates fear and anxiety not because they can imagine it happening to them in an abstract way, but because on a mass scale it triggers a PTSD flashback. In the GLBT community, this response can also be triggered by anti-gay comments styled in Christian language because so many of us were traumatized with this language as the soundtrack; for example, one fourth of us have been expelled or alienated from families or homes, often because the parents could not accept their child's "un-Christian" lifestyle.

Anxiety, fear and depression dampens one's will and lessens one's access to political and economic resources -- creating an advantage in someone who does not have it. Therefore PTSD is an effective tool of exploitation and therefore of oppression. Furthermore, in a typical victim-blaming pattern it is often cited as "proof" that there is something inherently inferior or unclean about women (feminists)/racial minorities/religious minorities/queer people or the way they live.

This thought doesn't give me a lot of optimism for the question I posed at the outset.

Comments

[archanglrobriel.livejournal.com]

PTSD makes oppression possible

Well I just had a lightbulb over my head moment. I don't know how it is for others, but I know that for myself - this is the absolute truth. I have recently discovered about my own life that because I have PTSD, I move heaven and earth to avoid confrontation and because I avoid confrontation this has led to a lifetime of being bullied and muscled around by others. And I've blamed myself for that, for "making it easy" on the bullies, without really noting that I didn't bash myself. That doing that was blaming the victim in a very real way.
And I know that when I read anti-gay comments on LJ, or links to anti-gay websites or the recent link going around which sums up all the anti-gay rhetoric in nice, neat quote-bites...I feel sketchy and tweaky and anxious and feel like my next bashing incident is imminent. I feel less able, at that point, to do anything about it. I'm in "duck and run" mode most of the time and it takes up -vast- amounts of my energy.
How very useful that is, for those who hate us, to send waves of PTSD anxiety over us. I never saw the connection to it before, but you're right on the money with this.
This is going to take a lot more thinking about...

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

I'm in "duck and run" mode most of the time and it takes up -vast- amounts of my energy.

That's the point, that's what this all comes down to; we are made to feel this way because the majority has decided our unease is acceptable for the sake of their benefit. This is why I call oppression a kind of cannibalism; we use some of our energy trying to avoid or appease rather than using it to gather more resources or defend ourselves in a straightforward way. The resources which would have been ours are consumed by others, and so we are being consumed, slowly and gradually.


How very useful that is, for those who hate us, to send waves of PTSD anxiety over us.

Indeed.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

This is a fantastic post.

Furthermore, in a typical victim-blaming pattern it is often cited as "proof" that there is something inherently inferior or unclean about women (feminists)/racial minorities/religious minorities/queer people or the way they live.

How so?

And if I wanted to know more about the actual symptoms of PTSD, where would you suggest I start?

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

This is a fantastic post.

Thank you!


How so?

Oh goodness, in myriad ways. Anti-gay activists have cited depression, substance abuse and promiscuity as proof that it is an "unhealthy death-style," when these are things frequently linked to someone's mistreatment. Women are told they are "hysterical" and need to relax; a couple of generations ago it was quite common for women to take all kinds of tranquilizers and relaxants, basically to help them tolerate the stress of sexism, but under the assertion that women are just naturally more prone to anxiety or stress. I don't know offhand any examples for race but I imagine they can't be hard to find.


And if I wanted to know more about the actual symptoms of PTSD, where would you suggest I start?

DSM-IV? I actually don't have a good link handy about this.

[herbalgrrl.livejournal.com]

In the Victorian era there was a treatment for women who were too high strung (read anxious because they were frustrated by the narrow confines of their roles) that involved keeping them completely bed ridden for a month or more. In the 40's & 50's unhappy housewives were often lobotomized.

[droid-1.livejournal.com]

I have "added" you, is that okay?

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

Yes, sure. Hello!

[herbalgrrl.livejournal.com]

I think you are correct that it can be easy for those with PTSS to feel so "triggered" by confrontation with clear evidence of injustice (both personal & on the larger social & economic scales) that they begin to instinctively retreat from the world & therefore from action.
The thing that I've found tho, is about managing my environment so that I am aware but not overwhelemed, as well as all the things I do to positively deal with the psychological & biochemical aspects of PTSS (I work out & take a cortisol blocker to deal with the cortisol effect. I make sure I eat & sleep well. I create safe & meditative space for myself. I confront the past as I can, but always remind myself that it is the *past* & that I am in control of my life now.)
Encouraging people to create lifestyles for themselves that encourage health & fulfillment is necessary if we are to solve global issues.
I know that may sound trite & selfish, but by not doing so we are becoming prozac nation.
Not that it's easy.
When other children feared the dark because they did not know what was in it, I feared the dark because I knew exactly what was there.
I knew that what was in the dark would come to get me & torment me.
I knew that the adults around me , on some level, knew too and that asking them for help would not save me, as they chose not to confront the monster.
And so the task now is to use that sensitivity to injustice I developed to inspire me to action, but to not let it drive me into knee jerk reaction or into passivity & depression.
It's difficult to avoid conflating my own unresolved sense of having been abused with my empathy for others in the world who are suffering because of systems that support greed and violence.
but again, knowing what I need to do for myself to heal & making that a priority comes first. It has to or I'll have no energy & insight for anything else.
& when I am doing well at doing that, I tend to realize a bit more that A) it's up to all of us, not just me & not just a few, but all of us to make things better around here B) the small things I do to effect change can count very much & C)we are doing pretty well in many regards for civilizations that are just now moving into analyzing ideas of what best serves all rather than the draconian tenants of obey the powers that be or be beaten down.

4 million years from monkey to man ain't half bad.

[herbalgrrl.livejournal.com]

Hav eyou read about the experiments (I hesitate to use the word, really) with rats & "learned helplessness'?
They took rats & repeatedly nearly drowned them. Some were allowed to swim til exhaustion set in before being "rescued". Some rats were held immobile under the water & then pulled out.
After they'd all recovered, both groups of rats were again put in tanks of water & left to swim to exhaustion. The rats that had been held immobile gave up on trying to swim much sooner than the other group.
They'd been taught passivity in the face of peril.

[herbalgrrl.livejournal.com]

In thinking on this I realize that just becoming aware of what PTSS is & how it works has actually empowered me quite a bit to be more effective at countering oppression. I've found some understanding rather than just a vague sense that I don't quite work like other people & wondering if this is a fault in me.
I understand the mechanism enough now that when I jump at shadows in the jungle, I automatically remind myself that I do this because I was mauled by a tiger once & so the part of my brain that deals with learning to survive thru reflexive action is now programmed to jump. That's all. It's ok that I do that, let it go & move on.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

The thing that I've found tho, is about managing my environment so that I am aware but not overwhelemed, as well as all the things I do to positively deal with the psychological & biochemical aspects of PTSS

Sounds like something I should focus on too. It doesn't do any good for me to be aware of every single little thing that affects my communities in a negative way; I can only do something about some of it, so I will do what I can & learn to protect myself in the process.

These are good and helpful thoughts. Thank you for sharing them! Much of it resonates. I think now that I'm aware of this pattern within me, I can give myself permission to step back and breathe deeply and count to ten before working myself up unhelpfully.

a few gushes

[metaphorge.livejournal.com]

Have I mentioned lately how much you kick ass? I mean, seriously, you have one of the ten most interesting journals that I read.

Re: a few gushes

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

Awww, thank you! Coming from one of the people on LJ who I think is kickass, I take that as I high compliment.

[demondoll2001.livejournal.com]

People of minority races often have the same reaction, actually.

I know I tend to avoid dealing with racist things people say or do around me, instead of confronting people. Mainly, this is because of my past experience as a helpless, little Asian girl, who was ridiculed and bullied as a child.

I let too much go. I avoid confrontation, all the while the things people say add up, and *then* I get depressed. I'm not sure how to overcome this. But I've been trying.

[tay-en-pointe.livejournal.com]

great post. lots of food for thought in here.
thank you.

[azaz-al.livejournal.com]

"I've been wondering over the past few days whether it is possible to examine the question of power inequality without getting drawn into divisiveness."

No, but too often the blame for that divisiveness is blamed on the victims who refuse to remain silent. People, or classes of people who singularly or as a group opress others or enjoy the benefits of oppressing others, see every call for justice from the oppressed as rabble rousing, trouble making divisiveness. This is why "good victims" are given star treatment every once in a while - you know, the ones who piously claim that they hold no anger or hatred towards the people who hurt them, and the media just melts, oh the little darlings! They aren't like those nasty angry people who keep pointing out the inequality in the world and make the privileges feel all squicky and uncomfortable!
I don't see why I should remain calm when I discuss these things. The insistence upon those who have been brutalized remaining calm while they discuss the horrors that have been perpetrated on them only works in favor of those who do not want to be directly confronted with the results of their behavior.
If people want me and those like me to calm down, they need to work for a world in which we do not have to be afraid. I hate trite sayings, but here's one which really fits in this case:
"Peace is not the absence of conflict; it is the presence of justice."

I didn't make the sword that divided me from Christianity - they did. Now they think it is my responsibility to kiss and make up and play nice. I feel you fall prey to that demand far too often. You can't just say "I will not discuss things divisively because it might hurt their feelings". THEY ARE CREATING THE DIVISION. Every time you entertain some jerk who comes into your journal and demands you accept their disgust towards your life, you are letting them abuse you futher as a way of trying to make peace. But peace is impossible on those terms. And it drives me crazy to see you let people stomp on you in that way and demand apologies from you and insist you treat them "fairly" in the same paragraph where they refuse to accept that you are a decent human being.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

I have in mind the majority of people who are in the third camp -- the ones who have yet to make up their minds what to do or think about this issue. I feel that if they see me conduct myself in a dignified way, that I will have a chance at affecting their conclusions. The thing is, I am still learning how to be dignified in the face of something that terrifies me. I'm also feeling out which is the more dignified response: addressing opposition in an unflappable way, or calling it exactly as I see it with no punches pulled. On this issue, I get pulled one way one day, and the other way the next. I'm still sorting out my thoughts and feelings on this.

[alobar.livejournal.com]

> I've been wondering over the past few days whether it is possible
> to examine the question of power inequality
> without getting drawn into divisiveness.

http://www.alternet.org/story/22273/

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

A good read. Thanks.

[heartwork.livejournal.com]

i can't figure out how to create a tag in my entries. is there a special code to use to create them?

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

Are you using the client? I don't know if it has been updated yet to reflect them. Edit the entry in your internet browser, there's a field for Tags.

[davidould.livejournal.com]

I think it's a sensible question.
I'm not sure, however, if I think the analogy that you draw is exact. In particular I'm drawn to the phrase "victimised because of something out of their control". There is a difference, in that paradigm at least, between being victimised because of one's nature and one's behaviour and I think the distinction needs to be made.

Nevertheless, I found the whole thing very helpful.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

There is a difference, in that paradigm at least, between being victimised because of one's nature and one's behaviour and I think the distinction needs to be made.

Why? Why should it make a difference why someone is victimized? Do you think it is closer to acceptable if it is because of someone's behavior? If not, how is the distinction relevant?

[davidould.livejournal.com]

thanks. Thanks a lot.
This is so typical of the apparently open and tolerant liberalism that has no problem washing those that disagree with the label "pigfucker".

Yet again you make absolutely no attempt to distinguish between those that simply disagree with your lifestyle choice and those that choose to exact violence. That's prejuice, plain and simple.

thanks again.

David "pigfucker" Ould.

btw, since pugfucker is obviously intended as an insult, can i ask why you're so negatively disposed towards people that have passion for pigs? Is it a principled objection or is it just pigophobia and hatred?

annoyed? you betcha :-(