Masking Poem by Rosanna Miller

Focus on everyone else. Their words, said or unsaid. Their actions, subtle but clear.
Focus on their needs and forget yours.
Constantly aware of the energy in a room
While forgetting to protect yours.
Working hard to manage your own responses to the tragic and life changing experiences shared.
Keeping everything calm to co-regulate.

Forgetting to seek support and numbing yourself with dopamine fuelled games.

Waking in the middle of the night to replay every single interaction from the day.
Dreaming of feeling unable to cope, being in victim mode and collapsing from exhaustion.

Listen to yourself.
What do you need?
What are you feeling?
What would ease this feeling?
Are you processing your own emotions or everyone else's?

You can take off the mask now.

What do I need?
Boundaries around my energy.
To release the tears of pent up energy.
Praise for doing the best I can.
Celebration of being so empathetic.
Sleep. Always sleep.

To set clearer guidelines around not trauma dumping.

Connecting with my higher self.
Connecting with my inner child.
Play! Sing! Laugh! Cry!

Notice, Allow and Accept all the feelings.
This too shall pass.
Tomorrow I will wear another mask.

And that's ok.

REveleigh 19/6/24