Introduction
When one responds emotionally to a terrible incident, the psychology of the affected individual gets traumatized. However, when the normal situation is affected, a crisis results. Apartheid is one traumatic event in South Africa that caused emotional trauma to those it affected. Traumatic events could have lasting impacts on a population, and can be transferred from one generation to another. Trauma and crisis need an effective intervention to promote physical and emotional well-being of an individual.
Crisis vs Traumatic Incidents
A crisis incident tampers with normalcy and needs immediate action since it is an unexpected urgent situation that exposes property and people to danger. On the other hand, a traumatic event is a situation that presents itself as highly disturbing mentally and emotionally to the victims (Nizum et al., 2020). Examples of crisis incidents are earthquakes and fire outbreaks. The people affected face immediate danger, creating an emergency whereby people may need to be evacuated. An example of a traumatic incident is witnessing violence that involves the death and rape of victims.
Effects of Experiencing a Traumatic Incident
The nature and intensity of witnessing and experiencing a traumatic incident make the difference between the two. Traumatic experiences can be detrimental to one’s psychological wellness (Posluns & Gall, 2019). An immediate impact is left on the life of the person who has just experienced a traumatic incident (Nizum et al., 2020). For instance, one may develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The risk of PSTD is high when one experiences a traumatic incident. Flashbacks and intrusive memories are left on the minds of the victims. The victims also may experience nightmares.
Individuals who experience traumatic incidents go through mental and physical torture. The incidentals cause injuries on the body, and medical attention is necessary. An example is when one lives with an abusive spouse who beats them. This causes physical injuries. Death may result when such an incident is not reported, and action is taken over time (Glennon et al., 2019). The victim may end up committing suicide or being battered to death by the abusive spouse. This has been witnessed in many cases of domestic violence.
The sense of trust in a victim who has experienced trauma may change permanently. The victims start viewing things negatively because of the shattered sense of security. This causes one to begin doubting everyone since trust has been completely broken. The affected person has a heightened sense of vulnerability, especially when betrayal comes from a close friend (Civilotti et al., 2021). This is the case in domestic violence or when one faces traumatic attacks and betrayal from a trusted partner. It needs a lot of time to heal and may sometimes be permanent especially when not addressed early enough.
In contrast, when witnessing a traumatic event, they may face some effects but not as severe as the ones faced by the direct victims. The factors influencing the impact on the witness include the type of relationship with the victim and the level of resilience in the individual (Harriman et al., 2021). Exposure to traumatic incidents may make one develop vicarious trauma, leading to avoidance and other side effects. Also, it can lead to one developing symptom related to PSTD.
A witness of a traumatic event may develop guilt because they start regretting why they did not save the victim in such a situation. For instance, when children witness their father bullying and battering their mother, they start regretting it (Adebayo, 2022). Their concern is over the inability to save the mother from such frequent attacks from the father. When the father finally kills the mother, or she commits suicide due to helplessness, the children are traumatized. They develop survivors’ guilt and wish that they had intervened.
A psychological impact is one of the signs that one has witnessed a traumatic event affecting another. The thoughts and vivid memories of the event may cause emotional distress (Adebayo, 2022). The well-being of such an individual has affected adversely, and they may develop negative behavior such as hatred and start revenge on behalf of the victim. A child who witnessed her father battering her mother, who finally committed suicide, may turn into a serial killer for revenge. She develops a hatred for men and may never get married.
Traumatic Events in South Africa
Throughout the history of South Africa, traumatic events have been witnessed, and the people have suffered greatly. One such event is the Apartheid. The South African colonial government imposed the discriminatory rule of Apartheid on the citizens. The discrimination was based on the skin colour of the individuals involved (Harriman et al., 2021). The Dutch were the colonizers of South Africa and were unwilling to share facilities such as schools, public transport systems, and neighbourhoods with dark-skinned individuals.
During Apartheid, all Africans in South Africa were treated as less equal. The colonizers needed to lower the self-esteem of the Black South Africans so that they could harm them mentally. Human rights were violated, and it led to the confrontation of the Dutch colonizers with the black majority (Civilotti et al., 2021). Therefore, Apartheid affected the people mentally more than it did physically, turning into a psychological battle fought between the two groups. The black population was made to feel inferior, and this traumatized them.
The Apartheid led to the Sharpeville Massacre; another event witnessed in South Africa. The Dutch colonizers passed oppressive laws. The passed laws were opposed by the Africans who carried out peaceful protests. The police unleashed live ammunition on the protesters, and 69 were shot dead (Adonis, 2020). Hundreds of them sustained severe injuries, such as broken limbs from gunshot injuries. The violence witnessed on that day created a disturbing scene for the people of South Africa. The victims injured in the protests suffered long-lasting psychological torture from the incident.
Crime and violence were witnessed in South Africa, where murders, thuggery, and theft were widespread. People in public places were attacked in daylight robberies by gangs armed with machetes and other crude weapons such as daggers. Homes were being invaded by criminal gangs and stolen. Reports of rape were also heard, with women being the victims, whereby they were being gang-raped (Kim et al., 2023). This has happened in farm attacks, especially in rural areas. The victims of such attacks were traumatized.
In the incident of crime and violence, the Xenophobic attacks that happened against the immigrants in South Africa were terrifying. The South Africans were attacking immigrants in their country (Adonis, 2020). This was being carried out against immigrants from other African countries, especially those working in South Africa. The citizens complained that the immigrants were taking up a large proportion of the available jobs, leaving their hosts unemployed (Harriman et al., 2021). Multinationals were attacked, and bodies of people were left lying on the roads and open grounds.
Impacts of Traumatic Events
The specific event that will be analyzed is the Apartheid, and the theory to be used is the psychoanalytic theory. This theory points out that the mind attempts to protect itself by pushing into the unconscious any emotions or memories that seem to distress it. The people during Apartheid had no option but to cope with the traumatizing situation. In an attempt to ensure that the memories of injustice were done away with, the minds of the traumatized individuals repressed the thoughts (Kim et al., 2023). Addressing such a painful situation seemed impossible; the mind buried the memories deep into their psyches.
The exertion of the influence of trauma means that it still exists despite repression. The outward symptoms of the exertion were noticed in the psychological symptoms displayed. Psychosomatic illnesses are the results of the repression of traumatic symptoms. The persons who witnessed and became part of the Apartheid developed anxiety, PSTD, and other disorders that followed the trauma that hit them (Adonis, 2020). The minds of the victims of Apartheid are still affected by the unresolved trauma that has lasted for over twenty years.
The psyche of the victims and the witnesses who went through Apartheid was adversely affected. Every human must exhibit the inherent need for identity and desire to be associated with something or someone. The collective sense of self for South Africans was negatively impacted by Apartheid (Civilotti et al., 2021). The people lost their agency and started feeling helpless. Today, these feelings still exist in the people of South Africa, long after the Apartheid ended. The dignity of many was tampered with by the Apartheid. They were constantly reminded that they were powerless.
Black South Africans have been affected severely by racist ideologies, and the discrimination has led them to live lives of poverty. Economic opportunities have been quite limited since the discrimination against black South Africans. Apartheid caused transgenerational trauma, and this is noted in psychoanalytic theory (Adonis, 2020). The trauma seems to have passed through generations and still haunts the people. Therefore, the children of the victims have internalized the trauma. Thus, the emotional scars shall continue being transferred to future generations.
Crisis and Trauma Intervention Model
The trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) model is one of the best models that could be used to assist those affected by the Apartheid traumatic event. The TF-CBT promotes healing among victims of trauma (Frood et al., 2018). The trauma-focused techniques promoted by the model through its use of cognitive behaviour principles emphasized by the model. TF-CBT is applicable in both group and individual settings and consists of 12-16 sessions that a victim or an affected person must follow (Civilotti et al., 2021). There are various areas where the TF-CBT model focuses.
The first area is psychoeducation, which seeks to eradicate ignorance of trauma. The effects of trauma on the behaviours and emotional well-being of the affected individual are addressed. The people affected by the Apartheid can understand the impact of the incident and act on their actions to bring them to normalcy (Harriman et al., 2021). The second is cognitive restructuring which addresses the beliefs and thoughts associated with Apartheid. The negative thought patterns could be changed and reframed through cognitive restructuring.
Another area is the relaxation technique. When individuals are taught various ways to relax their minds, they can avoid distressing emotions. Such methods include practices such as muscle relaxation and deep breathing. More so, exposure therapy is an area that keeps people exposed to the same memories and thoughts (Civilotti et al., 2021). However, this is done in a controlled manner assumed to be safe. Fears and anxieties are successfully confronted safely. Those affected by the Apartheid could be helped through relaxation techniques and exposure therapy.
Narrative processing allows people to talk about their experiences, which helps them release the negative emotions related to the trauma. The affected people narrate their feelings and reflect on their progress while assisting them to heal gradually. Safety planning and copying is also another area that the TF-CBT addresses (Rajaraman et al., 2022). It allows individuals to develop strategies to help them cope with negative emotions. These strategies include innovating safety plans to stop potential triggers and joining social support networks.
The TF-CBT model deals with trauma from two ends. The first is the emotional and the second is the cognitive aspect, improving patient’s overall wellbeing (Ling et al., 2013). This is what could best address the situation of those affected by Apartheid effectively. The healing process begins immediately after the individuals manage the emotions and beliefs associated with the trauma. Additionally, the TF-CBT model may help the victims of Apartheid, both those affected directly and indirectly (Civilotti et al., 2021). The individuals do not have enough resources to fund long-term therapy. TF-CBT offers a solution to the lack of resources.
Selfcare During Trauma
Self-care is essential, especially for professionals engaged in the field. They include those providing humanitarian help, counsellors, and various therapists. The professionals find themselves in an environment that exposes them to pain and trauma (Glennon et al., 2019). The individuals being assisted are humans, and it is easy to find oneself affected emotionally. Healthcare professionals ought to keep themselves safe for effective caring (Adlem et al., 2016). This is done through various ways, such as self-compassion, support, regulating emotions, checking their lifestyle, regulating their emotions, and developing resilience.
Emotional regulation is helpful and requires one to engage in activities that help them forget painful moments. Such activities include taking part in sports, meditation, and nature walks. The professionals must prevent burnout by ensuring they do enough of what they can. Working overtime leads to burnout and too much exhaustion, which overloads the brain. Burnout is discouraged since it may increase the risk of one getting irritated (Kumar, 2021). Therefore, professionals are encouraged to set realistic and achievable targets.
Resilience is valuable and helps one avoid trauma and pressure. It can be developed through peer support, carrying out some meditation and self-reflection, and seeking help from professionals. A balanced lifestyle is essential and can be achieved through having enough sleep, exercising regularly, and eating a balanced diet (Rajaraman et al., 2022). The professionals recharge and maintain a healthy lifestyle through such habits. Also, one must have self-compassion, such as forgiving oneself, self-kindness, and being gentle with oneself. It helps one avoid instances of shame and self-rejection.
Conclusion
A crisis and a traumatic incident have differences, whereby a crisis disrupts normalcy while a trauma disturbs one’s emotions. The most common traumatic events in South Africa are the Apartheid and the violent crimes witnessed in the nation. The Apartheid trauma is better analyzed using the psychoanalytic theory. The TF-CBT model is the most suited trauma intervention model that could effectively assist those affected by Apartheid. This model emphasizes addressing emotional and cognitive aspects of trauma to help those affected heal and regain control of their lives.
References
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