It's Gonna Be Okay

As Euini has an anxiety attack, he is surrounded by three people who approach his anxiety differently.

Agott highlights his positive qualities and his strengths. She urges Euini to face a stressful situation head on and gets frustrated when he can't. This is how Agott manages stress and anxiety- she is hyper-competent and constantly pushing herself. From a therapeutic lens, this is closely aligned with CBT and ERP strategies for managing anxiety- reframe thoughts and face anxiety directly.

Richeh tells him that he can move forward and encourages him to be "alone". She is urging him to prioritize a sense of safety. This is how Richeh operates- she prioritizes her own sense of safety by being highly protective of her autonomy, which has been threatened in the past. Again, from a therapeutic perspective, this approach is reminiscent of trauma-informed strategies- build skills to support safety and stability in order to function through triggering situations.

Alaira doesn't say a word to him. She kneels down next to him. She witnesses and doesn't try to fix. She is concerned yet calm. Because she is the test proctor, she is limited in how much she can intervene, but like a good teacher, she is a quiet, reassuring presence. Alaira's approach reflects the importance of co-regulation- it is healing to have another person witness and hold space for pain with compassion and empathy.

Euini benefits from a combination of all three strategies. He takes in the supportive presence of the group around him. He realizes that his assumptions are false- no one is ridiculing him. If anything, they are quietly concerned for him. He gains awareness of his own negative self talk and learns to doubt the accuracy of it (he isn't quite ready to reframe negative thoughts into positive, but doubting is an important step). He takes steps to foster a sense of safety- turning the cloak into a cloak of borrowshade to hide. That's what really allows him to move forward with the test.

Jun Kumaori (Junkuma)

"chasing its tail too much"

(Link to twitter repost below)