Migration – Past, Present and Future, the Experience of Ukrainians

I write about the possibility/impossibility of using group-analytic and psychoanalytic approaches in

– conditions of acute trauma;
– during the period of unfreezing of feelings and reactions;
– during the period of adaptation in new living conditions.

Section I

1). The first step is creation of psychic space (M.Morgan. Lecture 1 “Tavistock Relationships”). It was the creation of a group of Ukrainian families due to their need for social support of citizens of their country (example: mutual support group in Bildundswerk in Regensburg). Often people participated with a chaotic joining to the group and temporary withdrawal from the group.

This period lasted about a month. During this first stage, it is important to begin work with the received traumas. (Methods of working with traumas by Prof. Mooli Lahad and others).

Families need to be together, or at least within sight of each other. (Example. A group of mothers in the same room with children. Separating the mothers from the children causes unbearable anxiety in the mothers even more than in the children.)

The emotional state is often unstable. Physical state, on the contrary, can be stronger. They hardly get physically sick during the first month. Instead, they have two opposite tendencies: either they do not get sick in the future and note with surprise the strengthening of their physical condition. Or their physical illnesses can have an avalanche-like nature. It is important to include all support systems, especially work with physiology, which will give a bodily reaction.Intellectual abilities and skills have a certain narrowing and a high focus on the possibility of survival. Specification prevails at the expense of symbolization. Difficulty and even a decrease in the ability to analyze/synthesize, reflect and other higher forms of thinking formed during higher education, for example, learning a group-analytic approach. This was noted by group members and colleagues during group supervisions in the training program that has continued throughout the war. The transfer is of a social level (teacher, manager at work, etc.) The distance is uncertain, often very long. Frames are blurred (sometimes they try to address with extreme respect, next time as to a friend.) Trying to establish a frame causes the destruction of contact.

Neutrality is mostly not from the classical analysis or group analysis, but at the level described by G. H. Mead of the “process of cosial act”, “people to interact”, because commuication is a social act. (“Mind, Self and Society” G.H.Mead)

2). The next stage is stabilization of the psychic state and understanding of what happened, experiencing and synchronizing the physical and emotional. There is an active recall of the past. The possibilities of using and the effectiveness of the group-analytic approach are increasing dramatically. A “portal” opens to change mental reactions, contact with the emotional and intellectual sphere is restored. Even the possibility of changing the psychic structure is increasing.

Transference – in the first times at this stage, as to the mother. The requirement of empathy of closeness and containment. It is very important here to preserve the state of “a mother dreaming of children” (according to Bion), “couple thinking” (M. Morgan) or even family thinking (since the group consists of families) and group-analytic state (seeing the possibility of forming a “matrix” according to Foulkes.)

This stage ends with the establishment of group rules. Transferring the parental role and function to the therapist (regardless of the therapist’s gender).

(Example of N, who said that I address her as her father. Which caused a simultaneous emotional relief in the group).

A combination of leadership qualities and authority, which are attached to the leader of the group.

3). Formation and crystalization of the group as a small community. The group in this period is stable. But certainty in a couple’s relationship is under new stress. Time to “figure out the relationship.” This is especially true for families that have experienced separation in space. But they try to maintain continuity in time.

The beginning of active social integration into the new social space. It happens regardless of whether they want to stay in the host country or not. A new understanding of the time in which the break took place (Before the war and now. With an active but undefined expectation of the future “after the war”. The migrants before the war also have it. These are dramatic, also difficult events, yet they do not threaten life and survival .)

Expression of individual characteristics occur, but at this stage they can be understood and worked out in an group-analytically “usual” way. Expression makes it possible to see more vividly from a new inner perspective the “past” and the “acquisition of the new”. Understanding of the “related separation” (M. Morgan).

4). The process of further experiencing the war. Because the war is not over, the tension does not go away and requires further reflection, emotional experience, and often physical and mental survival of individuals, families, and societal survival. This is a war not only of a country against a country, but one preserving democratic values and new forms of international interaction.

Section II

Migration before the war in Ukraine, post-Soviet and before Covid times.

This material is based on the work with migrant’s groups at the Institute of Sociology and programs for work with refugees and displaced persons in Oerlinghausen. (2014 – 2017)

Peculiarities and differences of migration of the past.

1). The majority of people and families left of their own free will and by common consent, without external push, but for the sake of improving their general standard of living. The so-called “sausage migrants”. Families left their permanent place of residence as fully as possible.

During the integration, families underwent the process of “integration” within one year, after the stabilization of the family’s position, they were either strengthened, or completely destroyed, divorced. Most of the children stayed with their mother. They have a sufficiently high general level of education.

They require “equal”, “eye to eye” relationship in group (Oerlinghausen report). At the time of arrival, they had a strong desire to stay in the host country, which means a high motivation for integration and work together in groups. Currently, these are older people. The children are already adults and mostly integrated into the host society.

2). Migration during Russia’s war against Ukraine.

They left under severe external coercion, often having lost their homes or loved ones, with one suitcase and limited material savings. The standard of life and living conditions of many have declined in the host country.

At the same time, they had the experience of a previously ordered, sufficiently provided for material and social life. Therefore, they rely on “learned power” (I. Ratzke Rybak), which includes both their previous experience and knowledge regarding positive and effective solutions to life’s problems. This state of learned power can give confidence in one’s abilities for the first time. Even cause regression to infantile omnipotence (example of Hanna in the Czech Republic). But in new conditions, it can be a brake as to the formation of flexibility and openness to new things. This means that it reduces the possibilities of adaptation and integration.

Families that now end up in other countries mainly consist of women and children are separated from the men.

General sufficiently high level of education. With relatively high skills to learn independently. Children are sometimes forced to study in two schools: local in a foreign language offline and Ukrainian school – online. Mothers mostly also study in language and other programs in the host country, regardless of whether they intend to stay in the country they are currently in or not.

Not many Ukrainians intend to stay in a foreign country. They have a strong connection and frequent online contacts with relatives in Ukraine, mostly men or elderly parents. There are also young women who stayed close to their working husbands. My daughter is in Kyiv and increases the general level of stress and tension in the family that is experienced in Ukraine.

Despite the physical safety of such a family of women, the function of containment may rest with those who remain in a dangerous but objectively perceptible space. Women experience “compassion fatigue,” often unconsciously. Sometimes this causes women with children to return home to dangerous conditions. (Example 3. A mother and her child move to Mykolaiv. The mother’s argument: “I consulted with my son. He wants to be with his father.” The son is three years old. There are nine shellings and bombings in the city per day. There is almost no drinking water).

Unfortunately, this “natural experiment” will be continued in the near future. It would be very good to record it in the form of an group-analytic study in our professional organization.

Section III

I would like to note that the support of the community in general, and the professional community in particular, is extremely important. We were able to maintain the working condition thanks to the support of colleagues, this topic requires a separate presentation, report and/or articles.

I want to thank everyone who is always by our side during this difficult time. Large groups of Robi Friedmann and Uri Levin. Great understanding and even patience for my correspondence from GASI Management Committee. The inclusion of Ukrainian colleagues in many programs. Thank you, colleagues, Vivienne Harte, Fiona Parker. Thanks to GASI community in general! It was very helpful and inspiring. And to other professional organizations of EFPP, IGA. In the best traditions of the group analysis and psychoanalytic approaches, we continue this life-long research.

Thank you very much for your attention!