Assistant Chief Counselor/Medical Officer's Log #17 - "Let Go And Let..."

Posted on 25 Nov 2013 @ 11:52pm by Lieutenant JG Delainey Carlisle

312 words; about a 2 minute read

The rollercoaster of emotions I described in my last log hasn't abated, and based on my observations of the crew, I'm not alone. I wanted to be more excited about the recent Away mission, but the carnage left by the Borg has been foremost in my mind. Perhaps that's why being stripped of all, and I mean all, of my hair doesn't bother me as much as I would've thought. I'm still startled every time I look in the mirror of course, but all I can think is, what's a few hair follicles compared to one's individuality? At least, that's what I try to remind myself.

The experience has taught me a lot about myself and about some of the crew's responses to stress. While I have never defined myself by my looks, I'll admit I experienced more than a few moments of panic when I realized my hair was gone. No matter how enlightened humans have become, I think for women, there's something sacred about their hair. After all, I've never heard a woman complimented on her luxurious intellect, no matter how obvious or important those qualities may be.

But there's more to this that's troubling me...

Superficial appearance concerns aside, what was more troubling to members of the Away Team was having things forced upon them. We were forced to strip. Our hair was forcibly removed from our bodies, something that was done in the name of keeping us and others safe. Now that it's over, the fear has faded, but at the time, I saw genuine hurt and fear in people's eyes. We didn't know why it was being done to us, and the feelings of vulnerability it elicited provided a perspective on my work I had never considered before.

What is counseling but the strategic stripping of one's protective layers in the name of promoting health and safety?

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