Christmas in Sarajevo makes our trauma extra visible

In Sarajevo, we, too, are enchanted with winter magic – especially the children. Every year I see more enthusiasm in ways the city celebrates this season.

There are skating rinks where families bring their children to learn how to skate with Vučko mascot statues, a nostalgic reminder of the 1984 Olympic Games. There are decorated trees everywhere, and buildings are covered with twinkling lights and decorations.

But behind this enchanting scene lies a harsh reality that dims even the most festive of our lights: thick grey smog blankets the city, a by-product of political corruption and environmental neglect. Every November, the heating season starts and the demand for cheap fuel surges.

Trapped

Unfortunately, Bosnia and Herzegovina are not part of the EU, and regulations for heating sources are virtually nonexistent. The majority of the public industry is still dependent on coal or low-quality wood pellets.

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The same applies to many private homes as well, especially as natural gas is much more expensive than it was a few years ago. And prices are still rising. On top of that, more and more people use cars as primary transportation each year.

Sarajevo is a narrow city, completely surrounded by mountains. In the winter, cold air and pollutants get trapped in the valley, taking away all hope for air circulation.

All these factors create a giant cloud of smog covering the city. We are literally choking under this grey blanket, praying for precipitation or wind, sometimes with the Air Quality Index peaking for days.

No number of twinkling lights helps to brighten this gloomy scene. The situation is so severe that schools advise parents to buy protective face masks and prohibit children from going outside during school hours. The only positive in all this grey is that air purifiers became a must-have decor.

Poverty

What does this have to do with trauma, you might ask? How is smog connected to trauma awareness? I think the two are more connected than we would like to admit.

You see, trauma affects all aspects of one’s life. It determines our way and quality of life. The trauma-affected brain is in survival mode, and that means we are constantly living as if danger is around the corner. We don’t have time to think about anything besides how to escape the horror playing on repeat in our minds.

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In that sense, a person with trauma doesn’t have time to think about other things that life brings, like health, wellness or environmental well-being. And if you consider that almost 20 per cent of the country also lives in poverty, then you have the perfect recipe for disaster.

Caring

As a therapist, I am always interested in the root cause of the problem: why are people behaving the way they are, what motivates them and what doesn’t? I am interested in helping someone to build their capacity to care, not only for themselves, but also for their surroundings, including the environment.

I think that in order to address environmental issues like Sarajevo’s smog, we must firmly address the mental health of individuals and communities. Healing trauma can empower people to move beyond survival mode and take an active role in caring for their surroundings.

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This requires creating accessible spaces for therapy and raising awareness about sustainable living practices, such as alternative heating methods. With a collective effort, we can work toward a future where the air is as bright as Sarajevo’s winter wonderland.