abuse & trauma

Born and raised in a banana republic like the Philippines exposes one to intergenerational trauma from multiple layers of unresolved and often unacknowledged abuse. 

Imbedded in our DNA for countless generations of ancestors and perpetuators of a colonized land peopled by all manner of beings - local, pioneer, settler, trader, opportunist, colonial, and colonizer. 

Philippine history timelines

Asian, European, American - all these aliens fought their wars on our land and fought each other to gain a piece of our paradise. Leaving us with nowhere to run or hide all these years. 

Raping, pillaging, destroying and stealing whatever they could, in any way conceivable - most of it with malicious and violent intent. 

Trauma is often the common thread or denominator running through a variety of co-occurring issues, ranging from mental health concerns to substance abuse, poverty, exploitation by the sex industry, homelessness and incarceration. 

Duterte's failed war on drugs

Another layer of trauma that further complicates survivors of multi-abuse trauma is abuse and oppression of society. In addition to the stigma and barriers surrounding issues such as a substance use disorder, psychiatric illness, and various other forms of trauma - we face societal abuse. 

The disadvantages that a group experiences as a result of unjust social structures - dividing the haves from the have nots. Marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by poverty, homelessness, and incarceration – not because they commit more crimes or have greater rates of pathology, but because discrimination often keeps them from getting the same benefits enjoyed by the dominant culture. 

Martial Law survivors protest outside the Commission on Human Rights

Discrimination and other forms of societal abuse are traumatic to the people who are targeted and can, in themselves, result in post-traumatic stress. Which result from struggling with discrimination and oppression, as well as the imposition of mainstream culture as dominant and superior. Psychological effects include depression, shame, rage and post traumatic stress disorder. 

Trauma can also be passed from one generation to the next. Experts use the term intergenerational grief to refer to grief passed on from the generation experiencing the trauma to their children even though they may not be aware of or have direct experience of the actual traumatic event. 

beyond the #MEtoo movement

Historical trauma refers to cumulative trauma that occurs in history to a specific group of people, causing emotional and mental wounding both during their lives and the generations that follow. Advocates and other providers agree it is hard to meet higher-level needs such as emotional healing when basic needs such as food and housing are not met. 

Finally, people with multiple issues may experience trauma from the very social service system that was designed to help them. The inability to access appropriate services creates its own stress. 

child abuse & prostitution

The system itself thus adds to, rather than alleviates, their problems. Letting those who need it the most down by missing the very essence of the care needed for and by humanity. It's time to act now and address the issues with needed reparations.