Silence Breakers: Time Magazine Person of the Year and Trauma-related Trigger Responses by Jennifer Lohr

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“Social control is best managed through fear.” Michael Crichton

The science behind fear response and the brain is what we call “fight or flight.” Fear tells our brains to act or run. Yell out or move on quietly. Speak up or shut up.  We see the ‘fight’ reaction with each allegation where men and women are speaking up and out against sexual assault. The #MeToo movement's objective of breaking the silence has been carried with Time Magazine’s new release of their anticipated “Person / People of the Year.”
When one (or many) stands strong in the face of power or authority all while knowing their career or livelihood is at stake, it takes an awful lot of belief in oneself to continue on in their leap of faith to say something. Often we are encouraged to defend ourselves, but usually within the comfort zone of societal ‘norms’ (lest we enter the less traveled territory of what is considered ‘taboo’). Unfortunately, it stops a great number of people from sticking up for themselves and more often than most of us would like to think.


There have been many accounts where it was suggested that people stay discreet in hopes that such allegations wouldn’t ‘ruin’ the lives of the guilty parties…which I must say confuses me as it leaves little regard for the impact assault has on the survivors of abuse – their experience may very well have already ruined their own lives. While the world is being forced to reassess the culture of sexual misconduct, it goes without saying that the trauma can be long-lasting for many.  For those who do experience such a trigger response, you can find support here http://www.health.com/sexual-health/me-too-triggering
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