Truth, Trust, and Trauma: How Misinformation Undermines Our Collective Well-Being

"Misinformation is not just a crisis of facts; it is a crisis of trust, a wound to our collective nervous system. Healing begins with truth, transparency, and the courage to engage with curiosity rather than condemnation." - Mary Coughlin

In a world saturated with information, how do we distinguish truth from distortion? More importantly, what happens when misinformation and disinformation infiltrate our institutions, conversations, and decision-making? The consequences extend far beyond politics—they impact healthcare, leadership, and our collective ability to trust, connect, and heal.

As someone deeply committed to trauma-informed developmental care, I see striking parallels between the destabilizing effects of misinformation and the trauma experienced by families in the NICU. Just as infants require safety, consistency, and attuned caregivers for survival and growth, society requires shared truths, transparency, and ethical leadership to thrive. When disinformation spreads unchecked, it dysregulates our societal nervous system, triggering stress, division, and collective trauma.

Trauma and Truth: The Psychological Toll of Misinformation

Trauma occurs when individuals or communities experience overwhelming stress without adequate support or a sense of safety. Misinformation fuels this dynamic in multiple ways:

• It erodes psychological safety—the sense that we can trust our surroundings, our leaders, and our communities.

• It creates uncertainty and fear, leaving people vulnerable to manipulation and distress.

• It fosters polarization and isolation, making meaningful connection and collaboration more difficult.

The constant exposure to conflicting narratives, half-truths, and outright falsehoods is not just frustrating—it can be dysregulating, keeping individuals in a state of heightened stress and survival mode. This is true in both the NICU and in society at large.

The Parallels Between Disinformation and Medical Trauma

In healthcare, misinformation can cause direct harm. We see this in vaccine hesitancy, dangerous "miracle cures," and the spread of falsehoods that dissuade parents from evidence-based care. The same mechanisms that allow medical misinformation to take root—fear, distrust, and a lack of clear, compassionate communication—are at play in broader social and political contexts.

Similarly, families navigating the NICU often experience a lack of transparency and inconsistent information—leading to confusion, fear, and a sense of helplessness. Disinformation in society operates in much the same way: when people feel excluded or unheard, they become more susceptible to narratives that validate their fears, even if those narratives are false.

A Trauma-Informed Approach to Truth and Information

So how do we address the crisis of misinformation through a trauma-informed lens? The principles of Trauma-Informed Developmental Care provide a roadmap:

• Safety: Just as infants need predictable, nurturing environments, people need access to reliable, fact-based information presented in a way that fosters trust rather than fear.

• Trust & Transparency: Leaders—whether in healthcare, education, or public life—must commit to honesty, even when the truth is complex or uncomfortable. When people feel deceived, trust erodes, and disinformation finds fertile ground.

• Empowerment, Voice, and Choice: Teaching media literacy is a form of empowerment. Just as parents in the NICU benefit from clear, compassionate education about their baby’s care, society benefits when individuals have the tools to critically evaluate sources and recognize manipulation.

• Healthy Relationships and Interactions: Polarization thrives on misinformation. Trauma-informed approaches prioritize dialogue over division, creating spaces where people feel heard rather than shamed.

• Equity, Anti-Bias, and Cultural Awareness: Misinformation disproportionately harms marginalized communities. Trauma-informed responses recognize these disparities and work toward information equity—ensuring all people have access to truthful, clear, and culturally relevant communication.

What We Can Do

• Co-regulate the information space—engage with curiosity rather than condemnation when someone believes in misinformation.

• Encourage ethical leadership—demand transparency from those in positions of power.

• Teach and practice media literacy—just as we teach health literacy in the NICU, we can equip people with tools to discern fact from fiction.

• Model truthfulness in our own work—whether in medicine, education, or advocacy, our commitment to truth sets a standard for those around us.

A Call to Action: Rebuilding Trust in a Post-Truth Era

The fight against misinformation is not just about fact-checking—it is about healing, restoring trust, and fostering a culture of integrity. Just as trauma-informed care transforms healthcare by prioritizing transparency, empowerment, and human connection, trauma-informed leadership can transform how we engage with truth and each other.

How can we show up differently? How can we bridge the gaps in understanding rather than widening them? These are the questions that will define whether we move forward together—or remain trapped in cycles of distrust and division.

Truth is not a weapon; it is a light. Let’s commit to keeping it shining.

Let’s start the conversation. Let’s rebuild trust, together,

Mary

P.S.: If this resonates with you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Change starts with a single spark of awareness. Let’s light the way.