Violence is not a new concept. Many of us have been a witness to playground brawls, action movies, and the newest version -the Rated Mature video games. Several societies have celebrated the use of aggression in certain scenarios, from the days of roman gladiators to current boxing matches in Las Vegas. However, there has been a long history of powerless persons being victims of unsolicited physical force. Many of these individuals are violated because of the color of their skin or ethnicity. From the Holocaust in Germany to genocide in Rwanda, there are nations with a documented history of killings or extermination due to their race. Most of the glorified roman gladiators were even prisoners of war or slaves from other countries bought for the purpose of being used for violent sport. And the United Stated is not immune from this type of event in history. The Klu Klux Klan in the United States was an organization well documented as harming black Americans due to their race, and many Native Americans have been harmed or killed due to their race dating back to the 1400’s.
The victims of these crimes often died with their dignity and heads held high, but the individuals that witnessed their massacre or were exposed to the stories of the threat that continues to plague them as survivors are left to cope with the aftermath. Cope with a slain loved one. Cope with not being understood. Cope with living a life in fear. All because of something that they cannot control or hide: the color of their skin. But what happens when the coping mechanisms that we possess or were taught are not enough? What are the effects of being a bystander of these violent acts?
With all of the recent slaying of black individuals in America, there has been a resurgence of research into the effects of environmental trauma. Environmental trauma has long been shown to have effects on health and wellness, and recent studies have shown that repeated experiences of racial discrimination can itself be detrimental to mental health in particular. So it is not surprising that seeing the murders of presumable innocent black lives on the news, social media or online has led to symptoms of distress or even learned helplessness in the black individuals and families witnessing these events.
I propose that black Americans in America right now are dealing with a syndrome that has long existed, but was never defined. I have named this condition Racial and Ethnic Violence Exposure Syndrome or REVES. I propose that REVES is a constellation of psychological symptoms that develop in some individuals after repeated exposure to racial and/or ethnic violence directly or indirectly which induces severe worry or fear that they are in danger or not able to live a normal healthy life. And in the age of technology with instant access to information and images, it may be even more pronounced. I define racial violence as behavior involving physical force intended to threaten, hurt or kill someone motivated by racial factors or differences in race.
What makes racial and ethnic violence different than other forms of violence against humans is the intergenerational transmission of belief systems. Oppressors teach their descendants superiority and disdain while the persecuted instill distrust and fear in theirs. These attitudes lead to conscious and subconscious biases that affect day to day interactions of persons with different races.
This proposed syndrome is not unique to black Americans however; it is likely present in many survivors of racial or ethnic violence such as survivors of the Holocaust or refuges from Syria. All persons who have experiences or witnessed racial violence do not develop REVES, but many of them do or present with some of the symptoms. Symptoms and resulting issues include:
1. Anxiety or fear to participate in everyday activities
2. Depression or feelings of sadness
3. Helplessness or poor motivation (leading to poor performance in school or work)
4. Anger or irribility (possibly leading to aggression)
5. Poor self-esteem or feelings of shame
6. Inability to concentrate or focus (leading to decreased productivity)
7. Intrusive recollections or reliving of violent experiences
8. Disengagement or emotional avoidance (leading to detachment with activities or relationships)
9. Increased suspiciousness or hypervigilance, possibly paranoia
Now that you understand the symptoms and some of the resulting problems, it is important to understand some practical solutions to managing racial and ethnic violence exposure syndrome. Because it is hard to stay away from the information or not be aware of the issues; and for others they find it necessary to stay abreast or even be activists, it is important to have strategies for management of exposure to racial or ethnic violence.
Here are some tips for coping with exposure to racial or ethnic violence:
1. Seek solutions not problems- Instead of re-watching the violent videos or repeatedly searching for articles that give further updates, try to think of ways that you can educate others or be a positive force in the movement for equality. Being solutions focused in your examination of the facts and details surrounding racial violence will protect you from being overwhelmed with the negative. Reliving the traumatic experiences instead of moving forward with plans to be a source for change increases the likelihood of developing symptoms or REVES and decreases your chances of making a difference.
2. Discuss facts and information in a healthy manner- When participating in discussions surrounding the events and violence you have witnessed, do validate your feelings regarding what you have experienced. You are entitled to feel that way that you do, and it is important that you acknowledge what you have been through and that you are having an emotional reaction to the situation. Also, do not get caught up in discussing details of the events that are particularly troublesome to you. If someone attempts to bring up things that upset you, bow out of the conversation or let the person know that it is not something that you want to discuss at that time. You have the power to choose what dialogue you involve yourself in.
3. Take time away from the situation for self-care. Self-Care is ensuring the proper channels are in place to take care of yourself and maintain your well-being. It is a key element in protecting yourself from the stress of things that have happened in our lives and everything going on around us. Practicing self-care preserves your ability to have the energy to take care of business in and out of the home. It can be done in a number of ways including doing things that you enjoy, spending quiet time alone, or treating yourself. If you have experienced or witnessed racial and/or ethnic violence, it is very important that you carve time out to check in on how you are functioning and provide yourself some much needed love and attention.
Article has been edited and updated by Ayo Gathing, M.D. to be inclusive of ethnic violence.
The opinions expressed here are solely my own as a psychiatrist and public health advocate. I receive no support from any pharmaceutical or device company.
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