Trauma: the very word can strike fear into the stoutest heart. It can also mean different things to different people. When I write about trauma, I am referring to “the kinds of hurt that journalists can suffer go beyond mere sadness or distress” (Smith, 2016), and if lasting longer than one month, could lead to a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The United States Department of State defines Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on its website as: an anxiety disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of a traumatic event. A traumatic event is a life-threatening event such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault in adult or childhood. (United States Department of State, 2016)
It might not seem to sit with the somewhat light-hearted approach to life that the moxie spirit implies, but in a lot of ways, moxie is exactly what’s needed in a trauma situation. The work of Cait McMahon from the Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma on post traumatic growth shows that there is life after trauma, and it can be good. The idea of moxie is the ability to deal with difficulty with courage and strength (in a particularly feminine way), so when considered, it’s entirely appropriate to face trauma with moxie. You don’t have to be female, or to deal with it in a feminine way necessarily, but you can deal with it with courage, strength and a bit of style. Make it your style.
I have spent the past few years researching the area of trauma in journalists, particularly those in Australia. It’s a narrow and lonely field in that the more research I do, the more I see needs doing, and there are too few of us conducting it. Professor Kerry Green at the University of South Australia is a mentor of mine in this area, as is Cait McMahon. Where there are resources and links I will build them in here, as well as some of my research findings and updates on articles and issues. Feel free to browse, read, and comment. The more we talk, the healthier we become.