Anger is a protest that something we care about is at stake. This piece explores how to challenge power without causing harm, what people in authority owe those who speak up, and how groups can decide together how anger is expressed and received.
Is Avoiding Eye Contact Always a Trauma Response?
Not necessarily. While trauma can influence how we experience being seen, most gaze aversion has far more ordinary explanations. People look away to think, to listen, to show respect, or simply because direct eye contact competes with concentration. Drawing on the work of Stephen Porges, Allan Schore, Ruth Lanius, and Laurence Heller, this article explores the relationship between gaze, safety, and the nervous system, while challenging the common assumption that looking away always signals emotional wounding.