Collective Healing and Protection (Part 1)

Mammals gather and humans talk. Injured or threatened mammals, especially herd animals, tend to gather, or herd-up if you like. Humans, which are mammals, additionally benefit from talking about their distress with those they trust. Gathering and talking can be both healing and a communal protective factor. So, I believe it is fair to say, there are both healing and protective benefits to peer support. There is nothing new here. These are ancient practices that can be summarized in what David Grossman has said, “Pain shared is pain divided; joy shared is joy multiplied.”

There is a part of growth and healing, recovery from harm, that is individual and personal, and there is a part that is communal. Experience makes us not better than others, but better for others. As a group, we are not as strong as our weakest link, we are as strong as whoever is paying attention and ready to help.