Your body is not your own

Finding yourself dissociating?

Avoiding watching the news? Numbing through addictive behaviors? 

Let’s talk about Roe v. Wade.

A person’s liberty and right to choose to have an abortion. 

Now in 2022, the decades-old law is at risk of being overturned which has us all dysregulated.

Women’s and marginalized bodies have been policed since the dawn of time. In the media, in religious cultures, and now in United States legislation.

It’s disgusting to think that pregnant people around the nation could face legal punishment for making a decision about their own bodies. Especially when nearly 1 in 4 women in the U.S. are expected to get an abortion. 

What weighs even heavier is that people of color and people living in poverty would face the brunt of it. 

Overturning Roe v. Wade does not stop abortions from happening. It stops safe abortions from happening. It will create negative health effects in the long term. People will carry unhealthy pregnancies to term. Mortalities will rise. People of color and other marginalized, low-income people will be disproportionately affected.

We’re facing massive institutional oppression.

When our fundamental rights are at risk as marginalized people, we naturally go into a place of dissociation.

This is important to acknowledge.

When the dominant group, i.e. white cis straight men, make decisions about our bodies, we learn that our bodies are not our own.

We internalize that we’re powerless.

That we’re commodities to be exploited by others.

As author Pixie Lighthorse says,

“Reclaiming jurisdiction over one’s body is a heroic, healing journey.”

As we anticipate this upcoming time, I encourage you to deliberately notice when dissociation shows up in your life.

Don’t normalize what is happening. Be mad. Be upset. Be sad. Connect with your body, make space for what is here.

Yes it’s painful, and it’s important for you to listen, and attempt to not shut down.

We're living through extremely difficult times, so please acknowledge all of what you experience.

A heartfelt hug,

Nora