Prisoners
As a human rights defender or journalist you might be aware of your risk to be arrested. And yet, preparing for prison might feel irritating. How could you ever prepare for this? You can … by building your resilience, by establishing empowering practices of wellbeing in your everyday life.
And maybe you are not a human rights defender, but happen to be detained unjustly, unlawfully for offences, which you did not commit, or which should be everybody's human right?
So, all too often imprisonment is not anythiny you had time to prepare for. Your partners, your lawyers or friends still might have the opportunity to pass on ideas on how to cope with the situation you are in.
The following collection of practices of well-being, survival and coping in prison tell a range of stories and experiences. Feel free to take up, adjust, or dismiss them for your own context and use.
PREPARING FOR DETENTION
Inspiration for what to do before ...
Routines of well-being
Creating caring and empowering regular practices
Knowing a little bit of psychology
Stress and trauma are natural reaction to unnormal situations
Create support networks
Who will do what, if you get detained
Preparing the family
Enhancing the resilience of your next ones
Understanding the dangers
Risk analysis
Prepare your digital devices
Decide, what your phone and computer can share without your consent
DURING DETENTION OR ARREST
How to survive and care?
Staying calm - avoiding harm
Non-threatening but firm behaviour
TAKE CARE OF YOUR SOUL
Inspiration for how to care for your inside
Feeling strong
Respecting and demanding respect
They feel threatened, too
Nonviolent approach towards guards and officers
Inner step back
When guards enter your cell
Don't look down!
Little steps of raising our moods
One day at a time
Also long weeks, months, years are made of next days
Check for loopholes
Prison and legal systems are permeable
Writing diary
Creating space for reflection
Laughing is key
Positive emotions despite all odds
Books
Escaping the reality of detention
Care for your cell
Your spaces in the space which is not yours
Singing and humming
Comforting melodies
Singing in the yard
Hearing your own loud voice
Talk about it
Debriefing with inmates
Feeling togetherness
Meeting routines over distance
(Un-)Emotional times
Creating space for feelings
Enjoy!?!
Allowing yourself positive feelings
Soothing mechanisms
Stopping bad thoughts
Daydreams are soulfood
Getting your mind out of prison
Supporting others ...
... can support yourself
Acknowledging feelings
Not punishing ourselves
Creativity!
Creating your own visibility
Prepare for the unexpected
Reduce your stress
TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY
Inspiration for how to care for your outside
Losing weight and energy
Normalities of extreme stress
Breathing exercises
From your body to your soul
Feeding our senses
Providing our own sensory input
Catch the sun
Light and warmth
Sports - Sports - Sports
Finding the balance
The tiger in the cage
The danger of hospitalism
Hygiene
Avoid getting sick
TAKE CARE OF YOUR INMATES
Inspiration for how to care for your inmates surrounding you
Choosing your inmates
Importance of staying with trusted inmates
Stay safe
What to tell your cellmates
TAKE CARE OF THE ONES OUTSIDE
Inspiration for how to care for your family, friends and supporters
Taking care of them outside ...
... means taking care of yourself inside
Talking with family afterwards
Understanding what happened inside
Open letters
Telling your story outside
AFTER-CARE
Inspiration for what to do after the release
