Rewritten Text: A Journey from Uncertainty to Empowerment
Authoritarian Rhetoric is the Language of Abuse
In these dark times, when it’s easy to slide into despair, let’s gather together in community to lift each other up. I am teaching an online Somatic Breathing Class on Monday 5th February at 8 pm, tickets are £25 with all profits going to UNRWA.
Can’t make the time? Don’t worry, buy a ticket and I will send you the link to practise in your own time. Book your place here.
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Imagine this: you're having a casual conversation, but a prickling unease settles in. You can almost feel unseen eyes watching, an ear tuned to your every word. Or, someone close to you seems "off," their words betraying their true intentions. You can't explain it, yet you know. This unsettling awareness, of something not quite right, is a familiar feeling for many trapped in abusive relationships. I've witnessed it first hand, both from my own experience and in my wider family.
The chilling truth is the tactics used by abusers mirror those of authoritarian regimes. It's not just distorted facts and manufactured consent; it's a calculated manipulation of reality, aimed at breaking down your sense of self and truth.
Gaslighting: The Tool of Control
Gaslighting, named after a 1938 play, is an insidious emotional abuse tactic. Like the husband manipulating his wife into questioning her sanity, abusers use denial, lies, and information control to twist the truth and leave you questioning your own perceptions. Their goal? Complete control.
How Authoritarian Rhetoric is the Language of Abuse
These same manipulative tactics find an alarming echo in the rhetoric of authoritarian regimes. Here's how:
Denial and Discrediting: Uncomfortable truths are dismissed as "fake news," sowing doubt and eroding trust in independent sources.
Blatant Lies: Fabricated narratives rewrite history and create a distorted reality, blurring the lines between truth and fiction.
Withholding Information: Access to dissent and independent media is restricted, leaving people reliant on the regime's narrative.
Dehumanisation: Labelling anyone who is different to us, as "mad," "animals," or even "collateral damage" is an attempt to foster superiority over others.
Projection: Blaming external forces deflects responsibility and strengthens the regime's grip on power.
The Painful Impact
Living under such manipulation takes a heavy toll. Individuals become riddled with self-doubt, confusion, and a sense of powerlessness. Their ability to think critically and trust their own judgment crumbles, mirroring the effects of gaslighting in personal relationships.
Breaking Free: Recognising the Parallel and Empowering Yourself
Seeing the parallels between abusive rhetoric and authoritarian tactics is crucial. It allows us to understand these regimes not just as political entities, but as systems that inflict emotional harm. By exposing these tactics and fostering critical thinking, we can counter the manipulation and empower individuals to reclaim their truth.
Remember, authoritarian regimes thrive in the shadows. Shining a light on their linguistic manipulation is the first step to breaking free. Be informed, be sceptical, and trust your intuition. That feeling of unease is a powerful signal, urging you to stay alert and act.
Even if you are trying not to think about the horrors in the world, your body senses it. You sense this in your sharp intake of breath at yet another violation of human rights. You sense this when you feel the pain of others. You sense this when tears roll down your face unexpectedly. You sense this in the tightening in your chest. You sense this when you soothe your crying child. You sense this in your clenched jaw.
You are not meant to sit with these feelings, you are not meant to carry the burden on your own. Transmute your emotions into appropriate action.
The action could be a child’s pose, a longer exhale, wonderment in nature, being with your loved ones as well as taking collective action. These are all ways to regulate your emotions, the act of writing a letter in support of the voiceless will allow you to gain clarity on what you are feeling and strengthen your bond with others.
For reasons to do with keeping the cogs of consumerism turning, we left the social action part out of our nurturing practices. Instead, we moved into the realms of care for “the self” alone. How is that going for you? From global to local, if things are not fair or they do not work for everyone, you will feel the strain of that in your system. I don’t believe the consumerist version of self-care will bring you sustainable peace, instead you’ll be on an endless wheel of chasing external experiences in an attempt to internally soothe.
Awakening your neural pathways is so much more satisfying than a passive restorative pose, it leads to action and that is the way that everyone can live a dignified and fulfilled life.
Remember, authoritarian regimes thrive in the shadows of doubt and confusion. Shining a light on their linguistic manipulation is the first step to breaking free from their control. Be informed, be sceptical, and trust that what you sense is an important signal, one that tells you to be alarmed or to take notice.
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What’s going on
The London May Soothe Day Retreat is on 23rd May - come and enjoy a whole day of learning, soothing and healing with a gourmet vegetarian lunch. This will be held a few days after the launch of my book, bring your copy and I’ll sign it.
The May Soothe Weekend in Kent - 10 th - 12th May - a whole weekend of nervous system soothing practices, there is one room left.
The September Soothe Weekend in Kent - 6th - 8th September, I take away a small group of no more than fourteen. A whole weekend to deeply restore your nervous system, you will leave feeling restored and ready for your life.
Stay human,
Nahid x