By Mustafa Qossoqsi, Clinical Psychologist

Psychological First Aid, Translated by Lama Z. Khouri DPsa

Breathe, says the psychotherapist.
I will teach you evidence-based tools to trick your sadness
I can train you to use more effective techniques
to properly internalize your oppression
And to properly tame your pain
Breathe
Think that war is dirty, and the world is beautiful,
and that you are nobody
Breathe
Imagine, if you still have imagination after reality has occupied everything,
a safe place in a bedroom or a therapy room
Contemplate your hell and make it into a home overlooking the green plains.
Do not dream of freedom, for it has disturbing side effects like death, anger, and defeat.
Breathe
We revolt simply because we can no longer breathe, says Frantz Fanon
So, breathe.

That’s all there is to it.
You are just a little bit dead.
and the more you breathe, the more you will die, deeper and more peacefully.
And the world will be okay.

Image credit: The flagellum, by Pietro Longu, 2020