A week has passed and my thoughts are drawn to those who suffered in the tragedy in Las Vegas. I was on vacation with my family when it happened and as we packed to head home the following day, I realized that our path included flying through there.
To be honest, I was a little nervous. What would we find? Would the trauma still be alive and raw in the people we saw? Would the airport be filled with people trying to get out of town, away from the horror that occurred? Would the environment be safe for my children?
Nothing. There was no sign that anything had happened out of the ordinary the day before.
The only sign of the tragedy was a picture of people on the strip fleeing in terror on the cover of a newspaper, which sat quietly on a stand.
The more I thought about it though, the more it made sense.
That is what happens with trauma. It is not forgotten, but it becomes invisible. Certainly not right now for the almost 500 who went to the hospital or for those preparing to honor their loved ones who died, but for the majority it becomes invisible.
Chances are there were numerous people in the airport that day who were on the strip when it happened, but I could not tell you who they were as I passed by them on my way Starbucks or as we sat at our gate waiting for the plane. Everyone looked like they were going through their day as usual.
Invisible.
Trauma. Once the event is over, it often remains painfully alive in the heart, mind, and body of the individual. Yet life is expected to go on as usual and everything is quickly supposed to be okay.
The problem is, that is not usually how it works.
Trauma does not like to be invisible.
Trauma does not heal when it is invisible.
Trauma must be given a voice. It must speak it’s truth. It can be shoved for a time, but the emotions are buried alive and always find a way back out.
To the families of the 58, the almost 500 who were hospitalized, the thousands who were on the strip that night, I am sorry. Sorry for the pain, fear and trauma you endured and continue to endure.
I wish you healing,
I wish you peace.
I wish you freedom to refuse to allow your trauma to become invisible.
