Ivan F. Star Comes Out
Where do we go and what do we do to help ourselves?
By Ivan F. Star Comes Out I spent most of my adult life pondering the overall condition (s) of life on my home land, the Pine Ridge Reservation. In addition to the extraordinary unemployment and school dropout rates, I see a general dysfunction in the behavior of a substantial percentage of the population in terms of alcoholism, drug abuse, promiscuity (broken families), child abuse, violence, and a wariness of authority. Like so many in my age group, I grew up with most of the negativities of alcoholism. I also endured the overwhelming symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulting from my participation in the Vietnam War in 1968-69. I also surrendered to treatment for alcoholism in 1978 and PTSD in 1989 and am now a survivor of these two major detriments affecting my life. From that stance, I see these disorders in another light. I see a generally persistent and seemingly inflexible unhappiness with life. Also, I am very aware of the restrained anger among many individuals, even our elders and children, which often explodes in ways and places that are inappropriate. I have personally witnessed these flare-ups at public government meetings, community events, and at school. Most troubling is the appearance of a daunting preoccupation with suicide, specifically among our youth. Although it is not as obvious, I believe this obsession exists among the adults population too. Excessive alcohol consumption and drug abuse are primary symptoms of unresolved trauma which results in broken families and eventually to premature death. I view this as a form of suicide. As a side note, drinking and drugging are symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. When one’s trauma goes untreated, a person often resorts to alcohol and drugs as an unnatural and morbid way to cope with the symptoms. Recently, our government appealed to Washington for help in addressing the suicides. It appears that money is their primary concern and that is okay because they may need it to meet other needs. However, our problem cannot be effectively addressed monetarily. If only our government officials, clinicians, and even parents, could acquire a basic understanding of what is causing all of this, we can “fix” it ourselves. Of utmost importance is for one to overcome the popular myth that alcoholism and PTSD are solely mental conditions or illnesses. This poses an extremely damaging block for many since they do not want to be associated with being a “wacko” or “mental patient.” For this reason alone, most people avoid seeking help with their symptoms. Fact is the symptoms are a normal reaction to an abnormal situation. Learning about what is actually causing this general dysfunction within modern Lakota society is a major step to alleviating our problems. An ordinary person can learn and understand how unresolved trauma affects him/her. Such knowledge is not exclusively restricted to trained professionals. It doesn’t matter as to how much money is acquired and spent, it all deals only with the physical aftereffects of the unresolved trauma, the tip of the iceberg. This is similar to treating a child’s knee scrape without regard for the cause of the injury. Knowing about the source can prevent it from happening again.
For this story and more, visit the all new Native Sun News website
The ideal situation would be for all to achieve the same level of understanding. However, that is not going to happen. So, it is of vital importance especially for those in positions of authority to achieve a good basic understanding of this “problem.” With a grasp of the basics of unresolved trauma, its causes and effects, one may enhance their recovery chances tremendously. For example, the common definition of trauma alludes to an event that is outside the normal human experience. These events could be a natural disaster (tornado), assault (mental or physical), rape, fatal accidents (automobile, airplane, etc.), physical or sexual abuse (child or spouse), and war. Trauma is not restricted to war veterans. Every human being, including children, is just as susceptible. The most interesting cause of PTSD symptoms is in a hostage situation, life in prison, life as a refugee, and life in a concentration camp. At one time in our history, our ancestors had to ask for permission to travel off the reservation and today we cannot do what we want with our land. Isn’t this what people endured in concentration and prisoner of war (POW) camps? Where is the freedom? Think about it! Are we capable of seeing and accepting our subjection to totalitarian control throughout our history. It has been clinically determined that the symptoms resulting from loss of freedom are mostly emotional and cognitive, like anxiety, insecurity, inflexibility and denial, to name a few. Anyway, we can point that proverbial finger of blame at the white man and whine endlessly about what our ancestors had to endure and for what we are coping with today until the sun stops rising but it won’t so us any good. We have to stop that and start doing something about it. One of the symptoms of unresolved trauma is expecting and waiting for someone else to come to our rescue. Despite the fact that the only “help” federal government has to offer is money, I see our tribal government doing this exact thing. Congress has nothing to gain from our well-being so any assistance from them will not address our real problems. Perhaps intentions and hearts are in the right place and that is commendable. Reality though is that we are the only ones who can truly help us. Awareness is the first step. Learning about unresolved trauma and its effects is next. Then learning about what we can do to help ourselves is the final step in this lengthy process. There is no instant relief from this. In fact recovery is a lifelong process. We have endured this for at least 150 years and it may take just as long to recover. On the other hand, we have some rationally intelligent and educated people in our midst and that should give us an edge over Congress and their money. Anyway the negative results of this 159 year old forced oppression and control over Lakota people are real and far-reaching. We may not have the level of freedoms our white counterparts have but our situation is not impossible to overcome. We just need to know where to go and what to do to help ourselves. (Ivan F. Star Comes Out. POB 147, Oglala, SD 57764; (605) 867-2448; mato_nasula2@outlook.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
Join the Conversation
