In 2001, when the media was told to stop airing images of 9/11 (yep, that controversial topic), they chose to stop talking about it unless it was “that time of year.” Which, let's be honest, is really about the ultimate victims of the tragedy. Which is important! However, we have several generations of people, particularly young people, who have been seriously affected by 9/11 and need to heal from it.
I know this from the letters I have received since I began to share my own 9/11 experience last year. Add to that the long-term damage of the pandemic, and we have a global crisis that bears serious conversation. That will only happen when we pull the conversation out of the shadows.
We are knee-deep into the biggest mental health crisis our world has ever faced. I have foreseen how serious it has become, and it gives me chills. For the sake of people who feel they are not allowed to be traumatized by 9/11, we have to change the conversation around trauma.
While I may have endured a list of trauma, I know it takes only one traumatic experience to affect someone’s ability to function well in society. I believe the combination of 9/11 and the pandemic has collided with digital dependency, putting our world on the edge of serious long-term issues. I do see hope in the rise of spirituality.
However, we are doing our 22+ year-olds a disservice by not addressing the fear-based mentality undermining the entire generation. The truth is, everyone has a 9/11 and pandemic story. However, being book-ended in your own country by both has had a major effect on how they see and function in the world. Boomers would say toughen up. But just look at how horrible many boomer parents were to see that attitude has not gotten us very far.
The WTC tragedy and the pandemic were unprecedented in that they took place in America. They dramatically changed our lives and instilled a new level of fear across multiple generations. By avoiding the topic of 9/11, we do not allow people who need to heal to be triggered by the experience. That is what ultimately happens when we avoid having an open dialog about global trauma. Moving on takes a head-on approach.
Allowing the topic to be danced around 20 years later has yet to help. We need to acknowledge how both unprecedented events have affected all generations. We need to speak openly about why our young people live in fear of such a beautiful world. Before another 20 years goes by without the healing conversations that must take place for global-level trauma to be resolved.
If you or anyone you know needs healing from any past events, reach out to Shaman Isis through her contact page.