Community Pain
I’m horrified, again. Earlier today, there were reports of an active shooter at the Islamic Center of San Diego, the largest mosque in San Diego County. Time seemed to stop.
Words Community Pain by Abi Weissman, PsyD. Below is a drawing of 5 people’s backs with arms draped over each other’s shoulders. There are different ages and races and possibly genders. Below this image is the Waves’ logo, including the words, Waves, A Psychological Corporation. The background is beige.
I felt a deep pain in my gut. Stop killing people who want to pray and be in community.
I’m Jewish. I’m heartbroken for those at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Hearing about violence at a local mosque is not okay. Everyone should be allowed to pray, go to school, and to form a community with loved ones.
And then, I learned that some Jewish organizations and communities in San Diego were on lockdown. Although I knew little and don’t know that much more now, I began to send texts and messages. I reached out to everyone I could think of who might have a connection to the Islamic Center first. And then, I made my way through my parent friends, people in Jewish communities, checking in with online Jewish groups, and newer-to-me folks. I alerted my family outside of San Diego to let them know that we were physically safe. And then, I checked the news reports. The local ones had coverage but not a lot of information. Little about the Jewish organizations closed or communities told to shelter in place.
There was lots of concern about the children at the Islamic Center, though officials reported that no children from the school were injured. Thank goodness.
I kept looking for reliable information, and for a while there was very little to find. That uncertainty made me feel even more on edge.
I’m still jumpy. I stretched my shoulders and realized that my upper body had become tight. I made a point to be extra kind to the people I interacted with in this coffee shop. I feel like time has slowed wayyyyyyyy down.
I text people and we chat. We connect over reassurances that we are physically safe and somehow, through those conversations, our tears sprout bits of laughter. We share silly jokes. Somehow laughter helps remind us that we are still alive today. It helps me cope. So does writing. And stretching. And crying. We are sending love to all those affected by today’s violence.
As clearer information emerges about community and volunteer needs, Waves psychologists will continue looking for appropriate ways to therapeutically support individuals, families, and groups affected by today’s violence.
For general resources on how to support loved ones during this time, please see the American Psychological Association’s list of resources: https://www.apa.org/topics/gun-violence-crime/mass-shooting-resources
To donate to the ICSD Victim & Family Support Fund, please donate here:https://goodbricks.org/campaign/icsd.org/official-icsd-victim---family-support-fund
I donated in my personal capacity, not through Waves, A Psych Co. When I last checked late Monday evening, the fundraiser was 44% funded.
The City of San Diego has a web page for more details about today’s violence: sandiego.gov/ActiveShooter
The City of San Diego page also lists Victim Services through the District Attorney’s Office. It says that victims, parents, students, employees of the Islamic Center of San Diego, and impacted community members can receive victim services. Services are free, and there is no legal citizenship requirement to receive assistance. The District Attorney’s Victim Services line is 619-531-4041.More information about victim services can be found here: www.sdcda.org/helping/victims/victim-services
Reference on Laughter and Stress:
Kramer, C. K., & Leitao, C. B. (2023). Laughter as medicine: A systematic review and meta-analysis of interventional studies evaluating the impact of spontaneous laughter on cortisol levels. PloS one, 18(5), e0286260. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286260
