Protecting Oneself When Working on Dealing With the Past – Retreat
Protecting Oneself When Working on Dealing With the Past – Retreat

Author(s): Goran Božičević, Ana Bitoljanu
Subject(s): Psychology, Civil Society, Health and medicine and law
Published by: Documenta - Centar za suočavanje s prošlošću
Keywords: civil society; dealing with the past; protecting oneself; psychological consequences; Croatia; Istria; Grožnjan; retreat;
Summary/Abstract: This work is demanding and exhausting on many levels. Next to a strong emotional component of feelings which we are not even aware of, but suppress and bury them, there is also a series of other, psychological challenges. We listen to victims’ stories and stories of perpetrators, we are under pressure of those close to us, but also the society as a whole, to forget, not to re-open old wounds, not to touch ‘our side’, to watch the causes and consequences, to mind the balance, to fight windmills, to fight denial, to fight the corrupt (or at least unprofessional) justice system, inefficient police, hypocritical politicians, to fight the lack of understanding of those around us for that which we do. Actually, there are few human activities which cause so much exhaustion without guaranteed changes and results. Constant questioning of meaning of our work exhausts our capacities and causes frustration and anxiety. It is important to be aware of all of the mentioned, to know how to protect oneself from secondary trauma and burn-out, to know exactly why we do that which we do, to be aware of the fact that satisfaction will be rare and overdue, to know from where and whom we get our strength and inspiration. There is also an additional reason. This work is new, complicated and demanding. To do it, we need competent and qualified persons, who have knowledge, skills, and other interests, and not only people with their own personal reasons.

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