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StopTheState wrote

In Germany (I don't know where you live) we have "Out of Action". They are a group of activists who offer emotional first aid for people who were targeted by repression and violence.

They wrote this text concerning the G20 protests and mental health (this is a snippet):

Next to a threatening atmosphere and legal criminalization is the use of potential traumatizing violence component governmental repression. The targeted attacks on single people shall general scare off political resistance. A feeling of incapacity and unconsciousness against governmental domination is being created.

To develop strategies of action it is helpful to have an expertise off what an extreme psychological burden can be, how the consequences for affected people and their environment can feel like and how to handle it.

As an activist, we should always be aware of the risk being physically and mentally injured by governmental violence. Exchanges and networking can give protection and safety from external and internal injuries. It is about finding ways which enable the own ability and the abilities of the group to act. Despite the existence of violence and repression.

Extreme mental violence can generally be triggered by threatening situations in which we feel unstable and unconscious.

Anyone involved can be affected regardless of experiences. Even if we are not directly influenced by violence, to see other people affected can cause heavy burdens. They beat up somebody from us and we start to become scared and are paralyzed. Anxiety is an understandable reaction towards violence and brutality which we are confronted with. A frequent reaction is overexcitability, avoidance and displaced behavior and the reappearing of the experienced. Affected people suffer in long-term under emotional consequences from police violence. To overcome unconsciousness feelings in settings with cops it is important to experience your social environment as solitary, protective and supportive. A lot of times even the exchange of feelings after extreme events can be helpful.

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falita OP wrote

Ok, we should definitely do this. Is there anything more I should read on this kind of trauma to be more sensitive?

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