Monomyth: Seperation
The First Section of the Monomyth is Seperation.
This is Seperation from the normal that we once knew.
Trauma does this by making us feel different about ourselves and our experiences. It raises uncomfortable questions of “Why?” and “How?”
We often find ourselves held hostage by the secret pain of trauma, and that secret becomes a closer companion than those we care about.
During trauma our bodies do uncomfortable and strange things. We don’t act like we used to. We can’t act like we used to. And we don’t understand it. Those around us don’t understand it.
Some indigenous cultures have a belief that when we go through trauma, part of our soul seperates from the body. Science has backed this up through a phenomena called “dissassociation.” Our cultural language of a ‘broken heart’ also adds to this idea.
Dissassociation under trauma is when part of the mind, in order to save the human, splits off to create a safety place, or a safety story.
A safety story is something like, “This isn’t abuse even though it hurts, I am loved.”
Dissassociation is also portrayed as the mind/soul/spirit leaving the body and ‘watching’ what’s going on as a third person during a trauma.
Dissociation: How People Cope with Trauma They Want to Forget
Here’s some more info: Naked Bible 68: Interview with Fern and Audrey
(there’s also a transcript if reading is easier Podcast-68-Interview)
(This particular podcast deals with some heavy topics in the area of abuse. It has the word Bible in it, because the host is a scholar of the ancient Middle East specializing in the beliefs of the time period of Jesus of Nazareth, but this episode is not religious. Also mentioned are systematic human trafficking and sexual abuse, declassified trauma based mind control projects (yes, mind control is real… and its not what you’ve seen on tv or Hollywood. Here’s a link: https://www.discoveringmercy.org/resources/our-blog/) as well as some supernatural elements - all which may freak people out, but its worth the listen or read if you can get through it.)
The method of healing is always to put the person back together. However trauma makes us stuck, or freeze in a situation because that’s one of our biological fear responses as humans.
Its ok to be frightened. Its ok that we didn’t respond the way we’d thought. Its ok that we don’t know what to do, or how to respond. Its ok if we get stuck. But when the stuck overwhelms our entire lives, we do need to reach out for help.
Trauma isolates us. It often makes connection seem impossible, especially if the trauma was from a person who was close to us. But we cannot stay seperated and stuck in this isolate.
Staying stuck makes the trauma bigger, because, like an abusive situation - the longer we stay stuck the more trauma controlls our lives.
And my…
Perpetual Disclaimer for this series:
I am not a counselor or a mental health professional. I am going to attempt to avoid things which will cause alarm or harm, but I can't know what will trigger each individual. If you need to speak to a mental health professional please know that there are resources available.
From October 9-13, 2022 - I have a freebie time travel archaeology adventure story on Amazon, The Sacrifice. Download and leave a review. Your reviews help push the story higher in the Amazon ranking system. Thanks!
Your stories are amazing!
Chronic Writer