He over-eats because he’s nervous.
She over-sleeps because she’s sad.
He hits because he doesn’t know another way to show he doesn’t understand.
Her stomach hurts when there’s a test
His when a certain uncle comes.
She ‘checks out’ when her parents fight
or students raise a hand.
He cries with every little scratch.
She’s stoic with a shattered arm.
Their eyes glaze over at the sight of checkered shirts
Or painted nails
A hairdo
A certain aftershave
Or lip balm.
He can’t sit still.
She won’t stop day dreaming.
He mopes. She cries. He pouts. She flies
Off the handle
If someone meets her eyes.
He wets the bed.
She carves red lines into her thigh.
He fights because he’s scared.
She spits because she’s feeling trapped
and
flirts because it is the only way she knows
to interact.
They’re judged
For all
Of the above
When in fact
Their behaviors speak a loud broadcast
Of unabated stress
And lives
That turned
Hard
To survive.
For The Daily Post
Na'ama Yehuda 
This is excellent, Na’ama. It resonated with me as a trauma therapist. The young and the adult alike utilize such tools to cope, or try to. And then there are the drinking and the drugs, all trying to make the pain go away. I taught a classroom of high school seniors today about trauma and dissociation. I will be going back, and I would love to share this with them. ❤Shielagh
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Sure thing Shielagh! Feel free to share this with the students. Xo, na’ama
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Thank you for this, Na’ama. It’s straight to the bone. When you can make me cry with so few words, you’ve done your job as a writer, a therapist, an authentic person.
Much love and gratitude — meredith
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Aww… now you done gone and got me touched to my core … Thank YOU, Meredith, for this lovely loving comment.
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Your understanding of those that you try to help is evident in you writing. Understanding leads to the ability to love them for who you know they are not what they show they are. Thank you for your understanding.
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And thank YOU, for this lovely comment. Yes, we all need to be seen and heard … and loved. 🙂
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