Dara Story - Scenes 3-5 TERRI DILLION 22April2024

Dara, a factory worker, experiences distressing body memories triggered by the smell and mention of swimsuits. Anang, her colleague, offers support and suggests counseling. Dara reveals her past as a teenage model and her concerns about losing her job. Anang reassures her and promises paid time off for counseling. Anang arranges a meeting with a counselor and offers to accompany Dara. The next day, they meet the counselor, and Dara shares her sleep disturbances and the events leading up to her distress. The counselor listens and asks about Dara's past, specifically her experiences as a model. Dara explains her motivations and how she kept her parents unaware. Dara's Story Anang kneels in front of Dara and looks into her eyes. Dara begins tearing up, trembling. Anang introduces herself. My name is Anang. We met some time ago when we practiced your team support plan. I'm the factory's champion. It's my job to speak with team members who may be in distress. Do you remember me? Dara looks at Anang and nods. Anang asks, Would you like to talk? Dara, teary, nods again. Anang, I can see that something's going on for you. Your team became worried and thought we should speak. Dara, yes, my mind went somewhere else for a little while. Anang, is there somewhere you'd be more comfortable? A place where we could talk without interruption? Dara nods and rubs a tear from her cheek. I can't go inside right now, Anang says. I know a great place for cha yen around the corner. They have comfortable benches nearby. There shouldn't be many people there now. Dara and Anang sit on a bench and sip cha yen, Anang smiling. How's your suni? Dara brightens. She's well, Anang asks. Who looks after her while you're at work? Dara smiles a little. My parents. Anang, does suni enjoy spending time with your parents? Dara smiles. They all have a good time while I'm at work, Anang. Are you concerned about your safety? Dara shakes her head, no. Anang asks, Do you know why you rushed out of the factory? Dara tilts her head. I remember this smell and this talk about swimsuits over and over. Anang nodding. I think the smell and some words may have brought back a memory of something that happened in the past. That memory was so powerful that it took your mind somewhere else for a little while. Is that correct? Dara looks into the distance. What may be? I don't have a clear memory. Anang, this could be a body memory. It can make you feel something again that you may not clearly remember, but you're safe here and now. Dara looks around and nods. Anang asks, It is my responsibility to help people. 3.3 take 2. Anang asks, Take 3. Anang says, It is my responsibility to find help for anyone on the team that needs it, and I help the company find trusted sources of support in our community. Anang adds, No one in the company, including me, needs to know the details about what anyone on our team needs. If you'd like to tell me what happened, and if you don't want to tell anyone else, then I will respect that. Some things I may need to share with the leadership team to support you well. You can let me know if there's specific details you don't want me to share with them. Anang, I'm here to listen to whatever you have to say, whenever you're ready to say it. Dara slowly begins to speak. I'm worried that I could lose my job. Anang reflects, I can understand you're concerned about what happened today. It's confusing, and it may make you wonder what's going to happen next. Dara nods, Yes. Anang, I'm here to support you. I want to work with you, learn more about what happened, and what we can do if it happens again. Dara, I can't lose my job. It's my family. They depend on me. Anang reassures Dara, You don't need to worry about losing your job. Part of our support plan is to give people paid time to get the help they need. Dara brightens a little. There are tears in her eyes, but her voice is strong. Thank you, Anang. Anang asks, What happened today? Dara, slowly, Something didn't feel right soon after I arrived this morning. There was a smell. It was a familiar smell. I couldn't place what it was. It began to make my head ache. There were some new fabrics. That was the smell. The colors of the fabric made my eyes begin to hurt. When I touched the new fabric, my skin felt like it was crawling. My stomach was in knots. The day is a blur. Then you were sitting next to me outside. Anang asks, Has this happened before at work? Dara, Not that I can recall. Anang asks, Has something like this happened at home? Dara, I don't know. Maybe. Sometimes I get so tired I can't remember going to bed or waking up in the morning. I find myself at work and I don't remember walking here. Anang asks, How long have you been this tired? Dara says, I think since I was in Mafia 5 or 6, so maybe 16 or 17 years old. I was in school and working evenings and nights to make money. Anang, That's a lot of work. What jobs did you have? Dara begins, It was by chance. I was walking in my neighborhood with some friends. A photographer was taking pictures of some beautiful women in pretty clothes. The photographer saw us and asked if anyone would like to make some money modeling. That is, if we were old enough. I thought I could surprise my parents with some extra money. The photographer offered to text us the studio address. I said I didn't have a phone, so I wrote it down. One of my friends went with me. The photographer took some test photos. It was easy. Just my face, hands, feet, and body. I had my clothes on. The photographer and everyone else seemed very nice. The photographer said they would send my photos to people looking for models. If these people liked my photos, I'd have a job. They would pay in cash after every session. I could even have my parents there to make sure I was okay. I told them I was old enough. I could do this on my own. I checked back with the studio in a week. Someone liked my face and hands. They wanted me to model makeup and jewelry. That was my first photo session. It was steady work at the studio for years. I used the money to begin helping with food and things we needed in our home. After a while, I was making enough money to help us get a larger apartment. Then I had my daughter, Suni. I had to stop modeling. So I found a job with our company. I said I could work my way up and make good money. Everyone is depending on me, my family, my team, and the company. Dara became quiet. Anang, smiling, Thank you for sharing your story. I'm sorry what happened to you. Do you want to talk about how we can support you? Dara, I would like to get more sleep. I know I would be a better team member if I had some rest. Anang, I think these body memories are making sleep difficult. Could I introduce you to a counselor, someone to speak with about your body memories? Dara, that would be good. I can't lose my job. Anang, please don't worry about your job. We'll continue paying you while you're getting help. You and I can make a plan with your team to cover your work if you need to be away. Dara looks relieved and faintly smiles. Thank you. I'd like that. Anang, what do you think about these for our next steps? First, I'll introduce you to someone I trust to speak with about your sleep and memories. They're right here in our community. Dara nods, her eyes teary. Yes, I'll meet with them if you can be there too. Anang, I'll be there for the introduction. Then when you're ready, we'll meet with your team to make a work plan. Dara, I want to do that soon. Anang knows it's hard. 3.10, take two. Anang knows it's been a hard day for Dara. She asks Dara, would you like to go home to Suni and your parents right now? Dara nods her head and heaves a big sigh. Anang, do I have your permission to set up an introduction with a counselor? Dara says, yes. Anang, I'll begin making some calls. I'll tell them that I know someone who would like to talk. I won't tell them your name or your story. Those are for you to share when you're ready. Dara, thank you. Anang, is there anything you need from inside the factory before you go home? Dara, no, I don't want to go back in. Anang, could we meet here tomorrow morning? We could have some chai yen and meet a counselor I know. Dara smiles a little, hugs Anang, and walks away. The next morning, Anang and Dara sip chai yen on the bench. Anang asks, how did you sleep last night? Dara, not well. Terrible dreams. Anang, I'm sorry to hear that. After what happened yesterday, reopening your body memories can cause sleep disturbances. Hopefully, spending time with a counselor to process on your body memories will help solve your sleep disturbance. Would you like me to introduce you to a counselor this morning? Dara brightens a little. I'd like to meet the counselor as soon as possible. I'd really like to sleep without the dreams. Anang agrees. I'll text the counselor to meet us here. I've not told her your name or what you shared with me. Once you've met her, you can stop the meeting at any time. You can speak with her about anything you want. If she's someone that you feel comfortable speaking with, you can plan some private counseling meetings. Then, you can meet whenever and wherever is convenient for you both. Dara nods. Thank you. When the counselor arrives, Anang asks Dara, do you want me to step away? Dara says, no, I'd like you with me. The counselor introduces herself to Dara. She tells Dara that the purpose of this meeting is to get to know each other. She asks, Dara, could you tell me what happened yesterday? Dara begins, I have terrible dreams. I haven't slept well for years. Then yesterday, something made me anxious soon after I came to work. There was a smell. It's the smell of a certain kind of fabric. It's used to make swimsuits. I heard my team was going to start making swimsuits. All morning, every time I heard swimsuit, my heart and head started to throb. When I saw the sample swimsuits, the colors made my eyes start twitching. When I touched the fabric, my fingers and hands felt like ants were crawling all over. I thought I was going to be sick. I don't remember what happened next. Then I was sitting outside with Anang. The counselor asks, is this the first time something like this has happened to you? Dara says, no, I haven't been able to sleep well since I was in Mafiam 3, so maybe 14 years old. Counselor, can you tell me more about that time in your life? Dara. My parents didn't make much money. I wanted to help them. A photographer asked me if I wanted to be a model. I could make money quickly. They asked if I wanted my parents there for the sessions. I said no and lied about my age and address. I didn't want my parents to know. The photographer said they would share the photographs with magazines and talent agencies. When I came back in a week, the studio said they had a lot of requests for pictures, lots of different kinds. One magazine wanted a makeup model. Another wanted a jewelry model. That's when I started working and making money. The counselor asks, how did you like that work? Dara, hesitant, replies, I didn't. It wasn't long before the studio said that someone wanted a swimsuit model. I hadn't seen a swimsuit like that. They gave me some fruit juice with Mekong. That made it easier. I started making a lot more money. Sometimes I worked late into the night. My parents worried. I told them I was modeling makeup and jewelry for magazines in Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai. Part of that was true. I used all the money for my family. We had lunch every day and a big dinner every night. No matter how late I got home. Then a TV. Everyone got a phone, then a motorbike and a car. I found a better apartment for all of us. One with air conditioning. In a building with a guard. Then I figured out I was pregnant. The studio told me to tell my parents I had a boyfriend in the military. Pretty soon I had to stop modeling and find another job. That's when one of my friends told me about their job at the garment factory. I really like my team. I've been promoted quickly. I don't want to lose my job. Everyone is depending on me. My family, my team, the company. If I could just get some sleep, I promise I'll do better. Then Dara became quiet. She looked like she could go to sleep. The counselor said, Thank you for sharing your story with me. You've got a lot on your mind. You've been doing hard work keeping your plan together. Your body and spirit are exhausted. It sounds like you've been experiencing response to some things that happened when you were younger. Dara looked startled. I just want to make money for my family. The counselor, you've done nothing wrong. What has happened to you is not your fault. Talking about these things will help put your mind at ease. It may take a little while, but you should be able to get better sleep. Would you like to set up a meeting schedule? Dara replies. Yes, if we can meet after work. Dara and the counselor make plans to meet, beginning later that day. 4.5 Take 2 Then Dara became quiet. She looked like she could go to sleep. The counselor said, Thank you for sharing your story with me. You've got a lot on your mind. It's hard work keeping your plan together. Your body and spirit are exhausted. It sounds like you've been experiencing response to some things that happened when you were younger. Dara looked startled. I just wanted to make money for my family. The counselor, you've done nothing wrong. What has happened to you is not your fault. Talking about these things will help put your mind at ease. It may take a little while, but you should be able to get better sleep. Would you like to set a meeting schedule? Dara replies. Yes, if we can meet after work. Dara and the counselor make plans to meet, beginning later that day. Dara, worried, turns to Anang. How can I go back to my team? What will they think? Anang, your team cares about you. They know that you needed help, so they found me. They don't want or need to know any more than that. Dara, relieved. When can I go back to work? Anang, you can return whenever you feel ready. But first, we want to make sure you're rested enough to be safe. Then we want to have a plan in place with your team to minimize the stress on you. It sounds like we're in agreement that the swimsuit project is a stressor for you right now. Do I have your permission to discuss ways to keep that stressor away from you with your team? That is, until it causes less stress for you? Dara, cautiously. Perhaps... Anang, sensing Dara's concerns, I won't share with your team why this might be a stressor or any of the details you shared today. Dara, relieved. Thank you. Please do work on a plan. I want to get back to work as soon as I can. Anang, seeing Dara's fatigue, would you like to go home now? You could get some rest before your private meeting with your counselor. Maybe you'll get some more sleep tonight. Then you can text me in the morning. Dara, sleepily. I like that plan. Back in the factory, Anang meets with Dara's team. Members of the team ask, Is Dara okay? Does her family need help? What can we do? Anang answers, Thank you for your concern. Dara's getting help. Thanks to all of you. You saw Dara needed help and put your plan into action. Dara is very thankful, too. She didn't want to let you down. As you recognized, Dara is working through some experiences from earlier in her life. She wants to come back as soon as possible. And we all hope that is soon. But we need to make sure. 4.9, take two. 4.9, take two. Back in the factory, Anang meets with Dara's team. Members of the team ask, Is Dara okay? Does her family need help? What can we do? Anang answers, Thank you for your concern. Dara's getting help. Thanks to all of you. You saw Dara needed help and put your plan into action. Dara is very thankful, too. She didn't want to let you down. As you recognized, Dara is working through some experiences from earlier in her life. She wants to come back as soon as possible. And we all hope that is soon. But we need to make sure Dara is ready and that we are ready to support her. The team is relieved and voices their support. Anang, When Dara comes back, she may need to take a break now and then for personal reasons. And that's okay. We all know the company will continue to pay her when she's away from her job. And we know the team will need to continue production. We want Dara to know we're all supporting her and getting work done when she needs to be away. Let's talk about your plans. I understand Dara works the cutting table. How is her apprentice coming along? The team outlines the plan they've created to cover Dara's work with Anang. Anang opens a discussion about how they can reduce the possibility of another event. Dara gave me permission to share the stressor she experienced yesterday. As you know, a stressor is unique to the person and is connected to a body memory and negative experience. These are memories that our minds may have forgotten, but our body remembers. All of us have experienced things that stick with us. A stressor could be something that might seem ordinary to the rest of us. Dara's stressor was the new swimsuit material. The team looks surprised. Anang nods. It was a big surprise to her, too. But now that she knows it's a stressor, she's getting help. And over time, it will become less of a reminder. We'll need to help watch out for her, too. For now, Dara is stressed by the smell, sight, and touch of the swimsuit fabric. Even the word swimsuit can cause a response, like being stung by a bee. Once stung, you're always on the lookout. A few of the team add, I've been stung by bees. Just the word makes my skin crawl. Anang nodding in agreement. Let's talk about how we can use our existing production process to make work easier for Dara. Then, when she returns, we can share these ideas with her. The team begins to outline a plan. Dara's apprentice could be ready to help on the swimsuit production days. We already wear masks. Maybe we get one that filters smell. She wears a metal glove when using the cutting knife. Maybe we get gloves for both hands. Let's create a code word for swimsuit. How about Tom Yum? Everyone loves Tom Yum! Let's ask Dara when she returns. The next morning, Dara texts Anang. I slept better. I need to get back to work. Anang replies, I'm so glad to hear you got some rest. Let's meet at our bench. I'll bring the chayenne. Anang hands Dara a cup. You seem happier today. Dara smiles a little. Thank you. I am. Can I get back to work? Anang, smiling, yes, your team is excited to see you return. With your permission, I met with your team to share your stressor so that they could begin thinking of some plans to help you feel safe. They have some ideas for a plan they'd like to share with you. Your experience matters, so they need your advice on a plan that works for everyone. I did not tell them anything about why this may be a stressor for you. That's your story. That's your story to tell who you want and when you want. We talked about the effects of trauma on people, that all of us have experienced things that stick with us. These are memories that our minds may have forgotten, but our body remembers. Dara nods. My counselor talked with me about that too. My body expresses emotions that it may take a while for my mouth to say. And over time, these memories may intrude on our work and personal life. Anong. And when that happens to us, we may not recognize it, but our family, friends, and coworkers might. And it's their responsibility to make sure we find help. Dara nods. And sips her chai yen. Anong, I don't need to know anything about your conversation with your counselor. I can imagine she mentioned that sometimes something ordinary, like a smell, an image, or a texture, is enough to open the door to these body memories, a stressor. Dara replies, she did. It was definitely the swimsuits for me. Anong, to help you process these memories in your own time, it's our responsibility to help minimize your exposure to those stressors. Your team and I spoke about the smells, words, and textures that may stimulate memories for you. I shared with them our idea that some of the new fabric and garment items may be stressors for you. But we didn't talk about why. And they didn't want to know. They thought of some creative ways to eliminate as many as possible. As you process these memories, you can tell the team when these stressors don't have the same effect on you. Dara. My counselor said that would be our plan. It would help me get more sleep and help my focus at work. Anong smiles at Dara. I'm glad you're beginning to get help. Anong and Dara walk back to the factory. Anong. The team knows that you may need some time away from work from time to time. Sometimes you may need to step out suddenly. They know that is part of your plan to take care of yourself. They also know that the company is supporting you, as we would anyone that needs help, and will continue to pay you while you're away. Dara exhales deeply. Thank you. That was my biggest fear. I can't lose my job. Anong smiles. We all know that you will use this time wisely. It's there whenever you need it. You need to take care of yourself so you're able to take care of your family first and then the team. Anong adds. I'll stay with you as your team welcomes you back. They're excited to share their ideas on a plan and can share the details with you whenever you feel comfortable with that. They know it's your plan, too, when you're ready. Dara nods. Okay. Let's see how today goes. Anong, before we go inside, I want you to know that you can reach out to me at any time. You may come find me at work or text me when it's convenient for you. Just text CHAYENN and a time, and I'll know where to meet you. Dara returns to her team and the cutting table. They learn her plans to be out for self-care during the late afternoon several days a week, at least for now. The team asks if they could find a term for her stressor, a word that has happy memories, maybe Tom Yum. Dara smiles. I like that idea. Tom Ka has even better memories. The team shares their ideas about ways to separate Dara's cutting table tasks by product line. With Dara's help, they can plan all the ways to separate Dara's cutting table tasks. Oops. 5.6, take 2. Dara returns to her team and the cutting table. They learn her plans to be out for self-care during the late afternoon several days a week, at least for now. The team asks if they could find a term for her stressor, a word that has happy memories, maybe Tom Yum. Dara smiles. I like that idea. Tom Ka has even better memories. The team shares their ideas about ways to separate Dara's cutting table tasks by product line. With Dara's help, they could plan all the Tom Ka work late in the day, when she's away. Her apprentice could step in to help. Dara hopes their plan won't have to be in place for many weeks. Dara's apprentice asks her for some extra help with her cutting knife skills. She's been practicing with stressors She's been practicing with stretchy fabric that cuts like Tom Ka, but she needs Dara's expertise. Anang smiles at Dara, then turns to leave her in the team's good hands. Once a month, Anang has a champions meeting with company leadership to discuss employee support efforts and the health of the company's service provider network. Dara has lunch delivered, so the meeting is easier for the managing director and head of personnel to attend. Anang begins. In this month's update, you noticed we experienced a temporary production interruption related to the new athletic wear contract. One team member unexpectedly encountered a stressor and had a reaction. The team put our plan in place perfectly. They recognized the situation as it unfolded. Team 2 immediately supported the individual in crisis. Once imminent risk was determined to be low, one of the team found me and reported. I gathered the data needed and asked to meet the individual. I spoke with the individual off-site. She agreed to an introduction to a counselor. The counselor happened to have a very... 5.7, take 2. Once a month, Anang has a champions meeting with company leadership to discuss employee support efforts and the health of the company's service provider network. She has lunch delivered, so the meeting is easier for the managing director and head of personnel to attend. Anang begins. In this month's update, you noticed we experienced a temporary production interruption related to the new athletic wear contract. One team member unexpectedly encountered a stressor and had a reaction. The team put our plan to place in... Shoot. 5.7, take 3. Once a month, Anang has a champions meeting with company leadership to discuss employee support efforts and the health of the company's service provider network. She has lunch delivered, so the meeting is easier for the managing director and head of personnel to attend. Anang begins. In this month's update, you noticed we experienced a temporary production interruption related to the new athletic wear contract. One team member unexpectedly encountered a stressor and had a reaction. The team put our plan in place perfectly. They recognized the situation as it unfolded. Two immediately supported the individual in crisis. Once imminent risk was determined to be low, one of the team found me and reported. I gathered the data needed and asked to meet the individual. I spoke with the individual off-site. She agreed to an introduction to a counselor. The counselor happened to have availability for a private session that afternoon. I received a text from the counselor that evening. They don't consider her to be at risk of harm in her home, to herself, or to anyone else at this time. We'll know if additional community services are needed in the coming days. She returned to her team this morning. She wanted to get back to work as soon as possible. Her team developed some ideas for a work plan, and they've put one in place. The managing director and the head of personnel smile at each other, and then at Anong. The managing director asks, I learned that some of the team was off of production on the athletic wear line for a couple hours. None of the current production was impacted. It sounds like our employee support plan has worked again. What's the total time from event to return to work? Anong, the team recognized her distress at 1 o'clock, and I was meeting with her by 2 o'clock. Her team had her work temporarily covered that afternoon. I met with her team early the next day, and we drafted ideas for a return to work plan. She wanted to return yesterday, but she wasn't ready to perform at her workstation at that time. She returned this morning. So I guess that's a little less than 48 hours. The managing director smiles. Thank you, Anong. The head of personnel asks, do you think your service provider network can meet all of this individual's needs? Anong, thank you, yes, so far. We have a few of our team getting support from our network now. I have a monthly support network meeting coming up next week. I plan to ask if there are any gaps in their capabilities, such as the number of people they can help and types of support they can provide. We should then be able to determine if our current level of community investment is adequate. The head of personnel smiles. Thank you, Anong. Please keep us posted on changes we need to support across your network. Anong concludes, I want to thank you both again for helping to bring the employee support network plan to our company. I appreciate your investments in time and money, as well as the patience you had as we introduced the model and practiced the plan with every team. It's been true of nearly everyone we've helped. When they began struggling, they all just wanted to keep their job. But since they've... 5.10, take two. Anong concludes, I want to thank you both again for helping to bring the employee support plan to our company. I appreciate your investments in time and money, as well as the patience you had as we introduced the model and practiced the plan with every team. It's been true of nearly everyone we've helped. When they began struggling, they all just wanted to keep their job. But since we've helped them learn to identify their stressors and the underlying causes, it's changed the way they think about their job and this company. They think of us as a family. Dara was able to quickly return to her team. She had good days and bad, as she learned more about her stressors and their causes and built new skills. But the team has been with her at every step and are proud of the progress she's making. Occasionally, Dara will text Anong with, just to talk about family.