Reading Bouwen Theory. With our news cycle, it seems important to look at our anxiety & emotional systems. There are 2 kinds of anxiety: acute & chronic. Acute is in response to (an) event(s). Chronic is when anxiety continues & becomes a part of our emotional background.
So when people say they don't want to normalize the Trump administration's behavior, part of what they're saying is that they don't want the AA to become CA. AA has the reactions many of us are aware of... fight, flight, freeze, and caretake.
When our body carries around CA, it causes cellular damage. We have all sorts of hormonal secretions that affect our interactions, and our body is constantly working to heal. The side effects can be susceptibility to infection, ulcers, and (maybe) aging effects on brain.
Anxiety has colorations (depression, elation, anger, etc) It's infectious. Travels in groups. It's also addictive. Triggers can be positive or negative. (Note: the "addictive" often has overtones of judgment/shame. Not my intent. Just conveying theory. We all carry AA and CA.)
In our emotional systems, we react to our anxiety and stress. We scapegoat, fight, cut people off, and over-function.
Scapegoating (or triangulating) example: parent has anxiety, anxiety travels to spouse, child enters room and takes on anxiety, develops symptoms. (Like the "problem teen" who exhibits anti-social behaviors, but when you get to know the family, you realize he's the most healthy.)
Conflict: Can take the form of disagreement, competition, or criticism.
When conflict continues, we often cut off (or distance). Externally, people seem disconnected. But internally, distanced person think about the relationship, conflict a great deal. They are emotionally bound and defined by it.
Overfunctioning/underfunctioning: When there is an underfunctioning international leader, he wreaks chaos. he operates out of emotions or auto responses rather than thought-through principles. Important decisions don't get made. Blame other countries for problems.
We have become a part of Trump's destructive emotional system. The stress is exhausting. And we have to figure out ways to detach from the chaos while staying engaged for justice. We are trying to be non-anxious in the midst of constant anxiety-inducing news.
(Just saw that I spelled Bowen wrong... because I need an editor all the time)
