On the individual level, the empowerment becomes the criterion of intelligence to maintain the balance against the destructive external force.

1. A Personal Reflection on Trauma
1 | P a g e
Many years ago, I facilitated a talk on health and wellness at a neighborhood health center. The
featured speaker, a medical doctor, opened her remarks by pointing out, trauma as cause of every
disease. She went on to say, her practice goes beyond primary care to provide a treatment
modality that first identifies trauma, and second the proper cure. She concluded her talk, by
revealing that she had decided to abandon her primary care, and relocate to California to begin a
new practice of health care that is holistic. “I see myself more as a healer than a physician”
(https://www.drcarolle.com/dr-carolle-biography/).
More recently, I traveled to Quebec, a Province of Canada, to visit relatives, friends, and
colleagues. I had the good fortune of staying at the home of a friend who is a health and wellness
provider. I must note that she is a successful entrepreneur, Yoga teacher, massage therapist,
aromatherapist at Yoga MyArôme. During one of our conversations, she told me that
Fibromyalgia is the result of trauma. “It’s estimated that 6 – 10 percent of people in the United
States have fibromyalgia” (https://www.fmaware.org/about-fibromyalgia/prevalence/women-
fibro/). I was interested in the topic because this is a disease that affects the dearest and most
loving woman that I know. My friend went on to teach me about pressure points and essential
oils that can alleviate the pain this chronic disease inflicts.
For context, I will briefly mention, in the main western religious text, the fall of man as the
traumatic event of life is well established. It is written due to their transgression; the original
couple was kicked out of the garden. The Bible teaches the progeny of Adam and Eve would
have to work hard, and child bearing would be painful. On the other hand, the Theology of the
most recent branch of the Abrahamic faith contains no narration of man falling out. Rather it
teaches about the disobedience of an angel who thought he was superior to man based on his
composition of fire, and the latter of clay. Most importantly, Islam teaches, “No man pays for the
sin of and other”.

2. A Personal Reflection on Trauma
2 | P a g e
Brief, I was co-principal investigator for a National Institute of Health grant, which funded an
intimate partner violence research to attract Black and Latino men with two (2) or more sexual
partners (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3823747/pdf/nihms490950.pdf). The
primary aim of this research was for these men to adopt healthy behaviors, such as reduction of
risk, safe sex, healthier relationship, and so on. The majority of the men interviewed revealed
they were traumatized at an early age, i.e., assault. They claim, the trauma informed their
development as children and youths causing them to commit violence against their partners as
adults. Toward the end of the project, I incorporated a week-long lifestyle intervention, which
culminated with a graduation. During the celebration, each man received a certificate and a belt
as a symbol of Freedom (See photo).

3. A Personal Reflection on Trauma
3 | P a g e
The healer, mentioned in the opening paragraph, thought it was essential for her patients to
identify the trauma that caused their disease. This system thinking posits the patient is not at
fault. It seeks to absolve the patient of the shame that is associated with assault. It then follows,
the care is more about the mission to heal. Toward this end, the two core components are
prevention and education. 1) recognize the healthy signs of relationship. 2) learn the best
practices of wellness, e.g., healthier lifestyle intervention, either individually, couple, or group.
The short-term objective is the empowerment of the individual.
At this phase, it is extremely important to put trauma in its proper box. It means the trauma is
caused by another individual. Therefore, it can be concluded that it is exogenous, endogenous
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSo8kqbLDlw). Therefore, I conclude Trauma is wrong.
In most cases, it is done to the other, i.e., the weaker sex, gender, race, and so on. Hence, I now
postulate that the Society, i.e. power, institution, law, and so on, bears the full responsibility to
undoing trauma (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY93gHVynaY).
On the individual level, the empowerment becomes the criterion of intelligence to maintain the
balance against the destructive external force. I maintain it is the intrinsic value of the individual,
couple, family, and so on, to influence and change human condition; by telling success stories,
writing the poetry of unity; creating a better future; doing good; and so on. In the final analysis,
this is the challenge that Nature and History have placed on the path of sapiens sapiens being
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_8VCKBxNic). As we make our way through the galaxy
and beyond, we must join hands to creating the sustainable pathway.
About the author
Doumafis is Founder of Z Gallery, Playwright, Author, & Photographer for Graffiti Fashion
Show, a Design of Samareign™️. Doumafis is a Patreon Creator. He uses I Statement to share his
success stories.
Copyright ©️ 2020 Samareign™️ & Doumafis.
All Rights Reserved.

4. A Personal Reflection on Trauma
4 | P a g e
Notes
Dr. Carolle. Retrieved from: https://www.drcarolle.com/dr-carolle-biography/
Women and Pain: A Focus on Fibromyalgia. Retrieved from: https://www.fmaware.org/about-
fibromyalgia/prevalence/
Pilot Evaluation of the MEN [Making Employment Needs] Count Intervention: Addressing
Behavioral and Structural HIV Risks in Heterosexual Black Men. Retrieved from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3823747/pdf/nihms490950.pdf
Noam Chomsky vs Michel Foucault, Full Debate 1971. Retrieved from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY93gHVynaY
African Origin of Civilization. Dr. Cheick Anta Diop. Retrieved from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_8VCKBxNic
An Introduction to System Dynamics by George Richardson. Retrieved from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSo8kqbLDlw