Finding the Empathetic Witness
Effective Listening for Chronic Conditions - Womanition Magazine
Many people may not realize that long term chronic conditions can be traumatic experiences. Statistics say that 50% of Canadians suffer from chronic health issues. Today, that number has likely increased due to the amount of stress people are experiencing.
Trauma is not necessarily what happens to us, but what we hold inside us, in the absence of an empathetic witness. A large number of health issues start with adverse childhood experiences, such as abuse, neglect, poverty, or parental stress. The emotional patterns we learn as small children live on in the cells of our bodymind and can develop into chronic conditions as adults.
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak to a group of health professionals seeking information on Chronic Conditions.