You Are Not Alone

2024 has been a challenging year, to say the least. You may have been personally impacted by one of the multitude of chaotic weather events: hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and extended heat waves or cold snaps have affected many of us. An incredibly tense and fraught election year has tested our relationships with friends and family. 

As survivors, world events that we cannot control may trigger feelings of trauma. This is an outreach message and an appeal for each of us to rise above withdrawal and retreat. I challenge myself and each of you to avoid old coping strategies— isolation, looking to substances for relief, throwing yourself into working harder to distract from the pain.

Here are three things that may help you stay connected and grounded:

1. Give yourself permission to eat nutritious foods, hydrate, and rest more than usual.

• In times of distress, these basic habits can be the first to go out the window. While moving faster and doing more can provide a temporary escape from difficult or painful emotions, slowing down and caring for our bodies can be a powerful, soothing gesture of self-love that changes our perspective, improves our relationships, and helps us make better decisions.

2. Reach out to a fellow survivor or loved one.

• Staying connected to others in our survivor community protects us from becoming isolated and invisible. Consider the simple act of initiating contact with someone who has inspired you to heal; send a simple text or email like, “Hey, I was just thinking of you—how are you holding up?” 

• If you have lost contact information with an alumnus or a group you might want to reach, simply reply “help”  to this e-mail & we may be able to re-establish that connection!

3. Access a free meditation or movement exercise to help you ground your body and mind.

• It’s easy and free to access a MenHealing resource that may be helpful when you are struggling to manage trauma triggers. For example: 

• Hand Breathing by our Somatic Movement Educator Rich Sims
• Four Pebbles Meditation from myself (which many of you may have experienced during your Weekend of Recovery.)

While there is no guarantee that the world around us will calm anytime soon, let’s remember the power of connection and community. Remember that myself and others in our community are here for you now and will remain resolute in the coming months and years, even if things may get more difficult. 

Sincerely,
Jim Struve
he | him | his