Healing from Collective Trauma in the Wake of Charlie Kirk’s Death
/The death of Charlie Kirk, like so many other acts of violence in recent decades, has left many people grappling with difficult emotions. Even if we were not present, the constant replay of images, headlines, and arguments online can leave us shaken. For some, this has brought grief or fear. For others, anger, numbness, or even a conflicted sense of justice. These varied responses are part of the collective trauma we carry as a society when violence erupts in public life. Healing begins when we acknowledge both the pain and the division, and start to imagine ways to bridge the gap between us.
Why Collective Trauma Matters
Violence affects more than the immediate victims or witnesses. It ripples outward into families, communities, and even the nation as a whole. Each time such an event occurs, old wounds are reopened, from school shootings, to political violence, to everyday tragedies that remind us of our fragility.
Our nervous systems are not built to repeatedly absorb violent images, yet social media and news outlets expose us to these moments over and over. This can create a sense of hopelessness, division, and fatigue.
Holding Complex Reactions
Not everyone responds in the same way. Some feel grief and despair. Others feel anger or rage. Still others feel indifference or even a sense of justice. These differences can make it harder to come together, but they also remind us that trauma is complex. There is no single “right” way to react when confronted with violence.
Steps Toward Healing Together
Limit your exposure: Take breaks from constant media updates and arguments online.
Name your experience: Recognize what emotions are most present for you, such as grief, anger, fear, or numbness.
Lean into connection: Healing collective trauma requires community. Find spaces where listening and compassion are possible.
Ground yourself in hope: Division may feel overwhelming, but small acts of kindness and understanding still create change.
Collective trauma does not disappear quickly. Even as news cycles shift, the emotions we carry remain real. Healing will take time and requires us to resist becoming numb. By choosing connection, compassion, and reflection, we begin to soften the divisions and remember our shared humanity.