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Triggered memories ( continued )
SAID ALOUD
Aim . To confirm that you understand triggering of trauma reactions and what activates it .
Discussion . Describe your experience of working with survivors . ( 20 minutes in plenary .)
Talk about your own experiences of working with survivors , and try to relate your experiences to the story of the Butterfly Woman .
• What activates bad memories ?
• Why are bad memories activated ?
• What helps a survivor to cope ?
DISCUSSION
PART II : THE TRAINING
In your experience , what reactions did survivors display ? What reactions made them feel ashamed or crazy ? Have you seen women reliving their trauma ? Do you know what triggered their flashbacks ?
Trainer . I will continue .
Many objects and situations could evoke memories of the rape . Some states in her body would bring the memories back . When she menstruated , for example , the pain in her stomach and the sight of her blood reminded her of the rape . A yellow cloth ( she wore a yellow dress when she was raped ) instantly recalled the memory of herself bloody in her yellow dress .
A certain light in the evening before the sun went down , or the sound of the river reminded her of the rape too , because it took place by the river just before sunset . Other strong trauma reminders were angry voices and heavy breathing .
At the health centre , the Butterfly Woman felt calm most of the time . After staying at the centre for two months , she felt much better . She joined the choir where the women sang and danced . The choir revived some joy and vitality in her . Being together with women who had been through what she had been through made her feel less estranged . They could support each other . The Butterfly Woman was good with her hands and was able to join a sewing class where she learned to make clothes . Some of the women said they could make a living from what they sold , though they had been rejected by their families and community because they had been raped .