🪷If you want to understand what trauma looks like, look at this bear.🪷

This bear spent 20 years trapped in a cage. When it was finally freed and released into the wild, it didn’t know how to handle its freedom. Instead of exploring the forest around it, the bear did what it knew best—it walked in circles, as if it were still confined to that tiny cage.

Even though it now has an entire forest to roam, the bear continues to pace within an imaginary cage. Why? Because, after years of captivity and conditioning, the cage was where it felt safe.

This is such a powerful analogy for survivors of human trafficking. For years, they are often trapped in a world of control and fear, where every decision is made for them. Even after freedom is gained, the invisible cage—the habits, thoughts, and survival behaviours learned in captivity—remains. That cage becomes a place of safety, even when it no longer serves them.

For survivors, rebuilding a sense of safety outside the cage is the most important step in healing. It’s not about just opening the door and saying, “You’re free now.” It’s about creating a safe, supportive space where they can learn to trust, to explore, and to live again. Safety doesn’t happen overnight—it takes time, compassion, and patience.

We all carry our own invisible cages. Old habits and coping mechanisms, formed during times of struggle, can hold us back even when the struggle has ended. True freedom comes when we feel safe enough to step outside of those cages.

So, when you see someone acting in a way that seems odd or out of place, consider the imaginary cage they might still be walking in. Trauma rewires us in ways we don’t always see, but with time and the right support, healing is possible.

The footage of this bear was taken six years after its release from captivity at the Piatra Neamț Zoo. Even with all the freedom in the world, the trauma of 20 years in a cage still lingered. Healing, for both bears and humans, takes time and safe spaces to truly begin.

From my soul to yours,

Anca Pinciuc 🪷