TU68: Separation at the Border – Compounding Trauma and Insecurity

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Separation at the Border – Compounding Trauma and Insecurity

“Security” at the border? Relational science professionals have a lot to offer to understand the human rights event that is unfolding on the US-Mexico border. This podcast has been all about promoting security in ourselves and our loved ones, and a primary component to this is access to your caregiver when you are young. It effects our biology, or persistent sense of ourselves and our view of the world. But it works both ways… Stress and fear that is ongoing also has the same persistent thumbprint as well.

The consequences of forced separation on top of the stressors many of these immigrant children have already endured may well have lifelong impact on their body and minds, and we will talk about why and how this occurs. Regardless of your political leanings, the separation of immigrant children from their parents from any international border is a distressing situation. We’ll discuss the specifics and its impact on human development, particularly toxic stress, broken trust and the epigenetics of these biological imprints.

We will also provide things you can do to manage stress yourself, and to help at the border if you are moved to do so.

0:00-5:00

Introduction

Overview of situation on the United States-Mexico border and its impact on human development

5:00-10:00

Biology of your body wanting to return to a “safe haven” when threatened

Attachment, separation and child development

10:00-15:00

Separation of children from attachment figure and its mental strain, toxic stress and its impact on the bodies

Biological impact of trust and lack thereof

15:00-20:00

The epigenetics of broken trust and toxic stress

Dysregulation of parents who’ve lost their children

20:00-25:00

Secondary stress, unregulated cortisol in any situation can be harmful eventually.

Call to mindfulness, and action as a thoughtful response. It’s ok to down regulate by filtering news and social media, take care of yourself until you can act. It’s a privilege but when you keep your heart on-line and stay mindful you can be more effective.

Wrap up and outro

Resources:

Separation is Never Ending Attachment is a Human Right, Psychology Today Jesse Borelli Blog and

Co-authored by Alicia Lieberman, Anna Maria Speranza, Anne Rifkin-Graboi, Carlo Schuengel, Charles Zeanah, Daniel Siegel, Dante Cicchetti, David Pederson, Debby Jacobvitz, Elizabeth Carlson, Erik Hesse, Frances Nkara, Gottfried Spangler, Howard Steele, Jean-François Bureau, Jessie Borelli. Jody Todd Manly, Jude Cassidy. Judith Solomon, Karlen Lyons-Ruth, Kazuko Behrens, Kristin Bernard, L. Alan Sroufe, Marian Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marinus van IJzendoorn, Mary Dozier, Mary Main, Mary True, Miriam Steele, Naomi Bahm, Pasco Fearon, Pehr Granqvist, Peter Fonagy, Robbie Duschinsky, Robert Weigand, Ruth Goldwyn, Samantha Reisz, Sheree Toth, Sheri Madigan, Sophie Reijman & Susan Spieker

https://www.npr.org/2018/06/29/624789871/president-trumps-new-plan-isnt-to-separate-migrant-families-but-to-lock-them-up

What to do?

Many of us have the undeserved privilege of being able to modulate intake of news and social media to reduce our sense of overwhelm. We aren’t against this, we are just acknowledging that some people cannot tune out the traumas occurring in their lives. However since we can, we feel it important to balance our own comfort with action. By managing your access to constant news feeds that may make you feel overwhelmed and hopeless, one can preserve their ability to mindfully act when the time comes. So it’s not about unplugging and not caring, but protecting yourself from flooding and overwhelm so you CAN do something for those unable to help themselves. It’s your call, but in the event you would like to do something to help. We recommend giving money directly to reputable organizations on the ground rather than sending diapers etc. which may or may not be what they need at that time.

• RAICES The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services is a nonprofit that provides free and low-cost legal services to immigrant children, families and refugees in Texas. It’s accepting donations and volunteers at its website. It is a family reunification fund that helps undocumented immigrants pay bonds after they are released from ICE Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.
• In addition, the #postcards4families campaignwill donate $5 to RAICES for every postcard kids write to help the separated immigrant children.
• Tahirih Justice Center is providing free legal and social services to immigrant women and girls fleeing gender-based violence.
• The CARA Project is currently recruiting attorneys, law students and paralegals with experience in asylum work. The group asks volunteers to be fluent in Spanish or willing to work with an interpreter.
• Kids In Need of Defense partners with major law firms, corporations and bar associations to create a nationwide pro bono network to represent unaccompanied children through their immigration proceedings. Volunteers don’t need to have immigration law experience.
• South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project is providing free legal services to asylum seekers detained in South Texas.
• American Gateways provides legal services and representation to detained parents. It’s currently seeking volunteers to represent detained parents and is accepting donations.
• Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services is the largest provider of free and low cost immigration services in West Texas and says it’s the only organization in El Paso serving unaccompanied children.
• Circle of Health International has staffed a clinic caring for refugees and asylum seekers immediately upon their their release. Their McAllen clinic is currently seeing upwards of 100 patients a day.

Want to support this work and stay in touch?

Join our email list, subscribe to Tunes here or join our Facebook page here to get updated popular articles on these subjects of interest. Biggest help of all is to leave us a review, they are so useful as we go forward fine-tuning what is most helpful for our audience and it literally inspires us to keep going in this hobby of love!

New to all this? Start with Episode 59-61 for the Spectrum of Attachment and how to use the research in day to day settings, and follow that with a apertif of Episode 66 where a single non-therapist relates how she uses this material NOT in a relationship in a hilarious feedback session where she tells us how we are doing.

Be sure you’ve checked out our free video, Modern Adult Attachment 101 to learn more and to easily share the basics of this science and what to do with it with others!

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