The Impact Of The Orlando Shootings
As I think of what occurred on Saturday night, June 11th 2016 in Orlando, I am still in shock, disbelief and grief. My heart goes out to everyone involved in this tragedy. My deepest sympathy to the families and friends of the young people deceased. I send healing thoughts for all those injured physically and emotionally in the shootings.
Helen Keller stated, “Security does not exist in man or in nature”. Yet, most of us live under an illusion of living in a safe world.
Such incidences of violence affect our ability to feel safe. Abraham Maslow defined(1954) the hierarchy of needs includes five motivational needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid. This five stage model can be divided into basic (or deficiency) needs – physiological, safety, love, esteem and growth needs (self-actualization).
The deficiency, or basic needs are said to motivate people when they are unmet. Also, the need to fulfil such needs will become stronger the longer the duration they are denied. For example, the longer a person goes without food the more hungry they will become. One must satisfy lower level basic needs before progressing on to meet higher level growth needs. Once these needs have been reasonably satisfied, one may be able to reach the highest level called self-actualization.
The reason I note this is in order to emphasis this point – “Feeling safe is one of our basic needs necessary for human beings, before we can attend to higher needs of love, esteem and self-actualization. Hence, if we are running away from a tiger, we focus on our survival. If we are fearful, it is challenging to relax and love.
Since 9/11, the United States has been greatly affected by a feeling of a lack of safety, which in my opinion did not consciously exist previously. Growing up in Northern Ireland during the troubles, I was accustomed to living with a heightened awareness of my mortality. One never knew if a bomb might go off, or a shooting occur. When I moved to the USA in 1996, I enjoyed this feeling of safety and freedom. Of course, one always has to be aware of the choices one makes in keeping oneself safe. But I’m talking about an overall sense of safety in the environment.
I now wonder how the shootings in Orlando will affect not only the USA population as a whole, but especially the LGBT community and the Hispanic community, especially the Puerto Rican ethnic community who were targeted. The sense of being singled out and targeted can cause a profound feelings of anxiety, panic attacks, depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Often emotions can show up in physical symptoms, such as, headaches, asthma attacks, digestive issues, irritable bowel syndrome, heart palpitations, body aches, and fibromyalgia. The list is endless. When our survival is threatened, our emotional brain instinctively takes over and seeks to keep us safe, at all costs. For example, unconsciously, as a protective mechanism, we may feel sick, which keeps us at home indoors, where we feel safe.
In the general population, we may experience anxiety, hyper vigilance, sleep issues, nightmares or anxiety dreams. People are frightened to go into crowded areas, e.g. Disney world, concerts, airports. People may be concerned about leaving their home. Fear going on vacation, especially flying. Those who have anxiety issues will experience an increase in symptoms. Thus becoming over protective and limiting their interaction with the world because they perceive the world as unsafe.
People who have witnessed or experienced violence, trauma and grief may be triggered by the Orlando shootings. Causing memories and emotions of these past traumas to resurface. An increase in PTSD symptoms occur.
In these situations and for highly sensitive personality types, it is best to limit your exposure to the distressing information. For instance, reading updates is tolerated better than hearing or seeing visual images.
Please reframe from judging yourself, if you limit the amount and the way in which you gain information. Remember that your basic need is to feel safe in the world, and you are not doing yourself or others any good, by being overwhelmed, nervous, losing sleep and being fearful.
What can we do to cope?
Be gentle with ourselves. Reassure yourself, “Everything is okay, right now”. Make the best choice to stay safe and then go on living your life. Remind yourself that you have no control over the external world. You can put all your energy and focus into living, without regrets.
I believe that death can help make us focus on life and how we want to live. No-one knows how much time they will have on this earth. So, accepting this as reality and staying mindful of the miracle and preciousness of life, as we take pleasure in the simple things, and enjoy the connection we have with loved ones.
Practice living mindfully. Live with the intention of feeling what it’s like to be alive, being imperfectly human, and experiencing the multitude of emotions we feel without judgement. Making a conscious effort to live fully rather than being caught up in our head over-thinking life and criticizing ourselves.
Living right now in THIS moment. Just remembering to breathe, through these challenging times. Witnessing our thoughts and feelings without judgement, with compassion and kindness. Thinking things through before we react.
Allowing time and space to process the impact the Orlando shootings are having on you, others, the USA and the world.