'Whatever the method, what’s most important is that we acknowledge the complicated emotions we carry and give ourselves permission to let them go.'
Each summer, my family takes advantage of our children's break from school to embark on a road trip. As much as I look forward to this tradition, an unwelcome visitor often sneaks along for the ride: workplace stress. I try everything in my power to leave it behind, but some years it sucks the joy right out of what should be a time of restful connection.
By the time May rolled around, the accumulated weight of these traumas was immense and exhausting. Then, on the night before graduation, I received news that a beloved former student had been killed. This wasn’t just another stone; it was a boulder, and I was utterly crushed. When my husband and I left for our road trip the following week, I couldn’t stop thinking about this devastating news and the difficult school year. I finally admitted the truth. I was struggling.
Over the past few years, however, it is not just select groups of workers who have witnessed repeated traumas. All of our communities have been affected by the pandemic, not to mention global conflicts, political and racial reckonings, and economic instability. In fact, since 2020, the World Health Organization reported a 25% increase in worldwide depression and anxiety. It’s no wonder some of us struggle to untangle ourselves from stress and take the breaks we so desperately need.
Many mental health professionals encourage similar ceremonies or rituals to process difficult periods. A person might choose to write about an experience, then bury the paper to symbolize leaving the event behind. Others might seek ceremonies from their culture or religion to process grief. Some may find it helpful to sort overwhelming thoughts into two categories: those that are within their locus of control and those outside of it.
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