Mental health
fromThe Atlantic
3 weeks agoDear James: So Long, Farewell
Online support groups frequently become toxic spaces where members retraumatize others through betrayal, cliques, hostile debates, moderator missteps, and cyberbullying.
Trauma is a devastating and all too common experience. It influences relationships, self-esteem, self-worth, physical health, mental health, and overall well-being, and chronic trauma can induce lifelong maladaptive patterns. What can make trauma even more devastating is when victims are retraumatized in some way, as it immediately launches them into their past, evoking feelings of powerlessness, grief, and pain. Retraumatization can feel as if the original traumatic experience is occurring all over again.