We are the first generation to be able to begin our horsemanship with an understanding of the implications of a horse being a prey animal and a person being a predator. We are also the first generation that is beginning to understand that severely traumatized people often take on prey animal characteristics in order to survive.
Projecting our own feelings on to a dog is not as toxic to the dog as projecting our own feelings on to horses is for the horse. Like humans, dogs are predators and share our basic drive for autonomy, excitement, and risk taking. Horses do not have a fundamental drive for any of those things. Horses, like other large herd prey animals, are driven by a need for security, predictability, and social contact.
One can learn the details and implications of this dichotomy by searching this blog for several key words, e.g. "predator", "prey", "body language", etc.
All of that information is important for those who seek to build meaningful relationships with horses at any time. Understanding this dynamic during this time of extraordinary social stress could result in the prevention of violence and even suicide in your home today.
For over seven years we have used the understanding that those who have been severely traumatized, and especially those who fit a full blown PTSD diagnosis, often unconsciously take on the characteristics of a prey animal. This insight is the basis of our program with the local Veterans Hospital's PTSD program. We also incorporate this fundamental point in assisting survivors of sexual abuse. (Again, if one wants to learn more about this please search this blog for key words such as "PTSD", "trauma", "Ashley Edwards", "Road To Repair", "body language", etc).
At this time nearly everyone's sense of security, predictability, safety, and ability to have social contact is diminished or erased entirely. That is horrible enough for everyone, but is particularly devastating to those who have been severely traumatized, and especially those who have full blown PTSD.
Though it might be hard for others to understand, the current uncertainty that we all face can cause some people to relive past horrors in their lives. It can begin with simple irritability, progress into night mares, manifest itself in hyper vigilance, or, resumption of alcohol use in those who have not touched alcohol for years.
The result is often violence.
I am a domestic abuse and juvenile crime prosecutor and have been one for over twenty years. Anecdotally it seems that our domestic abuse case load is on a drastic up swing. When an extreme fight or flight response kicks in and stay at home requirements make flight impossible, violence will ensue.
The horse that cannot flee will fight.
Everyone needs to be alert and sensitive to the changes that we feel in ourselves or see in our family members. There has not been a time in recent generations that we have faced such a need for counselling services. When jobs are lost medications that have helped control depression and anxiety can become affordable. Bills stack up.
Everything begins to unravel.
At that point there is no security. There is no peace.
When people come to believe that there is no way out of the crisis that they are in, many come to feel that, in fact, there is only one way out.
Get yourself or your family the mental health help that can prevent the taking of that one way out. Don't plan to wait until the virus has passed to do something. That may be too late.
If you do not yet understand, the beautiful grey horse is not exhibiting happiness in this picture. She is anxious, afraid, and uncertain. Something has agitated her.
Regardless of how beautiful she looks on the outside, at the moment this picture was taken she was not experiencing life as she needs it to be.
The red horse could be viewed as bored, tired, or even sick.
He is none of those things. He has found security, peace, and predictability. That wonderful feeling of peace allows him to experience life as he needs it to be.
Take care of yourself and your family and do whatever it takes to allow those in your household to feel the peaceful joy that the red horse shows as we sail through these very rough waters.
No comments:
Post a Comment