Some thoughts for Artspace members

There have been discussions among members that are worth combining and addressing here.

One of our members is still admitted to the hospital, and will be for at least some time longer.  A few of us have been in touch with this person.  What is remarkable is that, with all the struggles this person is going through, this person is constantly concerned about our community; what is happening, how is everyone else doing, is everyone else all right.

What an amazing, self-less and kind person.

This has led to quite a few of us talking about the long term effects of stress and anxiety from AUPE picketer behaviour on ourselves, our friends, family and neighbours.

The long term effects of stress and anxiety do not go away easily.  Especially when the triggers are still here, outside our home, yelling "garbage" and "shame" in the early hours, loud enough to waken people in the upper levels, with their windows closed.  When the people who created such a hostile and adversarial environment continue to sit around outside our homes in the afternoon, picking and choosing who to harass, who to manipulate, who to exploit, and who to leave alone.

As one person pointed out, this isn't a coal mine.  This isn't a place where production can stop.  This isn't a place that where what's going on can be compartmentalised out of our daily lives.

For most strikes, at a place of business, a factory or an office, the people involved can all go home at the end of the day. There is a place of sanctuary where a person can escape.

For the invaders outside, they come in for a few hours in the morning, a few more hours in the afternoon (maybe; we never quite know when - or if - they'll show up, for how long, or what their behaviour will be like), then they can leave.

We have no such luxury.

It is our home - our sanctuary - that is being targeted.

No matter how blase we can try to be, the reality is that there is a hostile force outside our doors, and they have been there for almost 6 months.

Almost half a year of loud, aggressive, threatening, manipulative, disruptive people, surrounding our homes.

It doesn't matter that they aren't here as long as they were before.

It doesn't matter that they aren't as overtly aggressive or loud as they were in the beginning.

The effects of stress and anxiety remain.

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In a room full of people, every single one readily acknowledged that they recognize PTSD-type responses in themselves, in their daily lives.

It could be the sound of a voice, a similar looking face, a sudden noise, and a response is triggered.

As another person pointed out, it's a fight-or-flight response; an involuntary, physiological response.  The rise in blood pressure.  The tension.  The increased adrenaline.  Each of us responds in a different way, and our triggers will be different, but it's every bit as real.

Several pointed out that it will not go away until the picketers do, and even then, it will take years to recover.

One person is in the hospital, but there are others hurting, too.

People who, for some reason, aren't able to get the help they need.

If this is you, remember; it's okay to have these responses.  This is your body telling you something is wrong - and something is very, very wrong!

It takes significant self awareness to recognize these responses.  It takes incredible courage to reach out for help.

Help is there.

There is no shame in needing or asking for help.  This is an act of bravery and strength.

If you feel you cannot reach out to people you know, there is still help available.  One place to look is at this link.

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For others, if you notice some of your friends and neighbours are becoming more withdrawn or are isolating themselves, please reach out to them.  Offer them help.

We already have people who are willing to help care for pets or plants, or whatever is needed, in case someone finds they have no choice but to leave their home temporarily.

Unlike a strike at a factory or an office building, we have no way to escape.  We don't have that outlet that normally would be there.

We need that outlet.

Sometimes, that may mean finding some way to get away.

Some way to get the peace we have been denied in our homes.

Some way to recharge and recover.

If you need help, let someone know.

If you see someone who needs help, please reach out to them.

We are already a community of incredibly strong and dynamic individuals.

Together, we are even stronger.

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