First Session: Zoraida

Zora

Zora

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"They are definitely recurring, almost nightly some weeks," Zoraida nodded, somewhat resigned by this, "In fact, I have them mostly when I sleep alone. It's been that way ever since the attack, " she admitted softly, looking at the floor as she thought about how often they were, and how she had begun to dread sleeping alone some nights.
 
Romi

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This was what Valli had meant about expanding out. They had started with one thing--dreams--and now they were moving onto other things as they came up naturally.

Since the attack. So there was an attack, which gave him something to work on, and he nodded, watching her thoughtfully as he mentally pondered which way to go and how to ask.

"Can you tell me about the attack?" He settled on. Not an order. A question.
 
Zora

Zora

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Zora looked at Valli uneasily and nodded silently when he asked if she could tell him about the attack. Yes, she could. Did she want to? No, not really. But she also knew if she didn't then she was defeating the purpose of being here.

"I am, no, I own Woodland Imports," she started out slowly, trying not to let emotion get in the way, "It was attacked a couple months back by armed assailants. The place was shot up, people were killed, hostages taken, a body was even found at my beach house, too.. it was horrifying, I thought we might all die," she told him truthfully, as she tightened the grip on her clasped hands.
 
Romi

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Valli did his best to keep up with what was happening on the island, and he'd heard what had happened at Woodland Imports. It wasn't just a hint--it was pretty much a giant projected sign of TRAUMA THIS WAY with an arrow so large that even someone with no training in psychology or therapy could not have missed it.

"That kind of thing would be horrifying for anyone," he said, "and considering you went through that, it isn't surprising that you've been having nightmares. Disturbed sleep is a common symptom after trauma. The brain spends a lot of time trying not to think about what's happened. Every time you brain interacts with those memories, they just dig in deeper. Have you talked to anyone else about what happened?"
 
Zora

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"Yes, no...well, not properly," she confessed, a little embarrassed by this, "I mean I have talked a little with my aunt, and some with my boyfriend," she told Valli, "But not to a professional, no," she told him with a shake of her head. "I didn't think I needed to, I thought it would... just eventually stop being a problem," she admitted uncomfortably.
 
Romi

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Valli shook his head at her answer.

"No, I don't mean a professional. It's rare for people to seek out a professional immediately after something traumatizing happens. At the time, it feels obvious that the negative feelings will fade in time, once you've had some emotional space from it. I mean talking about it with the people around you."

Valli paused for a moment, considering, and then nodded.

"There are a number of factors which are considered protective factors. Factors that can help encourage positive healing after trauma, and prevent the development of long term trauma disorders. One of those is talking about the trauma with supportive people. Loved ones."
 
Zora

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"Oh," Zora said sort of surprised, realizing what he had actually meant. "Then, yes to a point, but not as much as I probably should have," she told him after considering his words about positive healing factors.

"I have spoken about the attack to family, but .. " here she frowned a little, "But, I never went into how much it was actually bothering me. I never really told anyone about the nightmares either. I didn't want to bother or worry anybody, and I didn't want to seem like I couldn't handle it, or that I was weak somehow..." she told him truthfully.
 
Romi

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"Having a support structure is one of the most important things. People you can count on. People you can trust, and talk to. A part of that is being willing to show vulnerability. To open yourself up to them, and to trust that they won't judge you. Even though it often hurts to talk about it, sharing those experiences is..."

He trailed off for a moment, his eyes flicking a moment as he tried to find the right way to say it.

"Lightening the load," he finally settled on. "Someone once described it to me that every person you share your experience with is taking a bit of the burden off your shoulders. If you do it enough, then the burden you have to bare is that much lighter."
 
Zora

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"Maybe," Zora said somewhat unconvinced, not actually sure if it was that easy. "I just," here she paused shortly, "I just feel like I'm adding to their problems if I do," she explained with a tiny frown.

"You see, my aunt is dealing with her family, which has got its own problems, my boyfriend has his own private issues right now, and my friends are so busy and, well, my son... I don't feel right unburdening any of this on him," she told Valli.

"I, it's hard for me... " she confessed. "I have always been the strong, encouraging one, fearless, and right now, well, I am not," she told him sort of ashamed of this. "I hate feeling this way too," she admitted with a sigh.
 
Romi

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"It can be hard," Valii said, "being the tough one. People get used to you being one way. To being the one they look to. It can be difficult to change that, and can make you feel... not yourself. In a way, it seems you've assigned emotional value to your position as the pillar of strength, and anything that would change that is like an ax chopping down your pillar."

Chopping at her, in other words.

"Have you heard the concept of 'social contracts'?"
 
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