June 1, 2016
Written by Dr. Earl Bracy, Milwaukee psychologist working on Precious Lives project
As a psychologist in the city of Milwaukee I felt an obligation to participate in Precious Lives and lend my expertise in explaining the effects of violence on youth. We are losing children and young adults at an alarming rate and I think people need to awake from their slumber and do something to stop it.
By participating in the Precious Lives project I am hoping to arouse people from their slumber. During the Precious Lives LIVE show, I hope audience members are able to feel the pain fathers, mothers, grandparents’ uncles, aunts, sisters, brothers and communities feel when they lose someone they love to gun violence.
In the city of Milwaukee, especially inner city, our children experience trauma on a daily basis. Trauma by definition is, “a very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems for a long period of time". Gun violence can be traumatic especially to young children and adolescents.
A teenager I worked with a few years ago lost two good friends from a double homicide, simultaneously. The funerals were held at the same location at the same time and the youth would not attend the funerals unless I went with him. We attended the funerals and I noticed at the time this youth was in a state of shock, numbness, confusion and disbelief. Several days after the funerals, I received many frantic phone calls from him, stating he was having vivid repetitive nightmares.
Too many of our children are experiencing this kind of trauma and often it goes unnoticed by parents, teachers and the community at large. These traumatized children will sometimes say that they can't feel their feelings and one way to attempt to feel, is by engaging in dangerous and reckless behaviors such as driving fast, being in a stolen car, or abusing drugs.
Teachers, parents and the community should be cognizant of all of these negative behaviors that come into play when someone has been traumatized. This is a defensive shield that gives the person a sense of protection. It is important to recognize that these wounds run deep and may take some time to heal. We need to work to penetrate the anger and hurt that the traumatized individual harbors and build back the trust. Teachers and others must be more aware and utilize your skills to gain back that trust in order to help the individual heal and reach their fullest potential.
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