Prison journalism: Coping with Loss and Trauma

Prison journalism: Coping with Loss and TraumaLincoln Raker was incarcerated at Pollsmoor prison from 2013 until 2016 and participated in the restorative justice programme while serving his time.

by Lincoln Raker

14-12-2023 08:44

in Prison Journalism

Prison

Image via Unsplash

The reason for addressing this topic is that it is a common experience for many, and some of us do not know how to cope with it.

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Experiencing Early Loss At the age of 14, I lost my parents, a situation that is seldom considered or discussed. Losing my parents was incredibly confusing for me, as it left me with mixed emotions and an inability to express myself to others, including family members.

The Impact of Unresolved Trauma I believe that accepting the reality of never seeing a loved one again is a lifelong challenge. The reason for my current lifestyle is likely because I never processed my trauma and continued to blame myself for their death.

ALSO READ: Prison journalism: Getting along as best I can

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Reflection on Personal Actions and Their Effects When I hurt someone, I didn't consider the trauma I might inflict on others. By causing pain to one person, I felt a temporary relief but failed to think about the lasting impact of my actions. For example, if I hurt someone, it affects not just them but also their children, parents, and friends. The hardest part is that I can empathize with their suffering, and dealing with this takes time.

A Turning Point: The Loss of a Cousin Not long ago, my cousin was killed by the same gang I used to be involved with. It was a devastating situation, particularly because I was no longer associated with the gang and felt helpless. People looked to me for explanations about what happened, how, and why, but I had no answers. All I knew was that we had to accept what had happened.

ALSO READ: Prison journalism: Power and Survival in Prison

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Accepting Life's Unchangeable Realities Sometimes in life, we cannot change certain events; we must simply accept them and move on. I believe that if something happened, it was meant to happen, and there's not much we can do about it.

DISCLAIMER: Submission published as received

RESTORE is an NGO based in Cape Town, South Africa, providing inmates at Pollsmoor Prison with restorative justice opportunities.

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