There are serious mental health ramifications of every action that's occurring right now. One side of the political spectrum doesn't own this. One side doesn't have it demonstrably harder than another. WE'RE ALL HUMAN BEINGS. That's the truth of it. We're all just human and we're all hurting. Some of us worse than others.
Some of us have lost a loved one. To a horrific illness. An inexplicable phenomenon hellbent on infecting as many people as possible, and indiscriminate in it's maiming or killing. It's so voracious that many loved ones are unable to comfort their loved ones as they pass. Robbed of a traditional closure. It's tearing them down.
Many people are jobless. Scared of being homeless. Frightened beyond all reason as they struggle to put food on the table. Wondering why they're vilified for the most reasonable need. Some are in rural areas. Away from that virus that everyone keeps droning on about. But the droning one's have jobs, have stability. You don't. You''re cracking.
Others yet though are confronted head on by this virus. Strapping on PPE and doing what they can to stem and reverse the tide of the advance. Changing protocols, tight conditions, limited supplies. All stacked against you. Along with the unknown, and a disease that doesn't always respond like other ones. It's tiring. It's draining.
And another growing subset of those that survive treatment. Fevers, respiratory issues, strokes, cardiac events, and even the experience of intubation. Horror in your own skin. The long term effects are only best guesses.
Feelings of futility, of helplessness abound. It's not a matter of the specific circumstances. It's the symptom of wide spread harm. Of widespread difficulty. How we go about facing this is a defining moment.
Do we call those worried about income callous? Or do we hurt for them? Do we call those who shelter in place cowards driven entirely by fear? Or do we recognize the danger that is truly posed to people?
I mean that. Division at a time of hopelessness is natural. It's the evolution of negative emotions when we lose control. But what purpose is it serving? Who is it helping?
I've been examining these issues in myself. Because in the face of this crisis I've reached burnout at a rate I'm not proud of. But maybe it's the natural course of the stress and the pressure. It's the course of feelings of futility and hopelessness. The problem is it's bleeding over. It's becoming anger. I have a bias in this to stop the direct suffering this sickness can bring to individual patients, their medical caretakers, and their families. That desire when coupled with those emotions driving people to depression or despair bleeds out as anger. Anger at the situation. Anger at those who don't see the forest for the trees on this. Anger at those who don't understand what you're going through. Or have placed more value on other problems.
I don't think anyone is truly running around with malicious intent at a time like this. I think people are doing the best they can. The way they prioritize problems and values vary based on the experience they're confronted with.
That's where we can't lose sight. We can't forget that another's struggle had a solution that may be in conflict with the solution of ours. Compromise, understanding, compassion, and dare I say it, love are the way out of this. When hopelessness abounds we cannot defeat it with anger. We need to defeat it with love, and aid, and help that brings back hope itself.
I maybe waxing philosophical for some in the broader solution, but I think it's the honest answer. Now for the immediacy of the situation there are other more clinical answers. Reach out if you're struggling. Don't bottle it up. Talk. Get help. Call me, call a loved one, a friend, a mentor, a helpline. Don't wallow in helplessness, anger, depression. This virus has taken enough from us. I don't need to lose anymore, we all don't.
I truly believe we will be better for this if we refuse to give into our basest desires. If we look around us. We're all struggling. If we focused on helping others and getting ourselves the help we needed maybe, just maybe, we would have less conflict and a little more hope.
Some of us have lost a loved one. To a horrific illness. An inexplicable phenomenon hellbent on infecting as many people as possible, and indiscriminate in it's maiming or killing. It's so voracious that many loved ones are unable to comfort their loved ones as they pass. Robbed of a traditional closure. It's tearing them down.
Many people are jobless. Scared of being homeless. Frightened beyond all reason as they struggle to put food on the table. Wondering why they're vilified for the most reasonable need. Some are in rural areas. Away from that virus that everyone keeps droning on about. But the droning one's have jobs, have stability. You don't. You''re cracking.
Others yet though are confronted head on by this virus. Strapping on PPE and doing what they can to stem and reverse the tide of the advance. Changing protocols, tight conditions, limited supplies. All stacked against you. Along with the unknown, and a disease that doesn't always respond like other ones. It's tiring. It's draining.
And another growing subset of those that survive treatment. Fevers, respiratory issues, strokes, cardiac events, and even the experience of intubation. Horror in your own skin. The long term effects are only best guesses.
Feelings of futility, of helplessness abound. It's not a matter of the specific circumstances. It's the symptom of wide spread harm. Of widespread difficulty. How we go about facing this is a defining moment.
Do we call those worried about income callous? Or do we hurt for them? Do we call those who shelter in place cowards driven entirely by fear? Or do we recognize the danger that is truly posed to people?
I mean that. Division at a time of hopelessness is natural. It's the evolution of negative emotions when we lose control. But what purpose is it serving? Who is it helping?
I've been examining these issues in myself. Because in the face of this crisis I've reached burnout at a rate I'm not proud of. But maybe it's the natural course of the stress and the pressure. It's the course of feelings of futility and hopelessness. The problem is it's bleeding over. It's becoming anger. I have a bias in this to stop the direct suffering this sickness can bring to individual patients, their medical caretakers, and their families. That desire when coupled with those emotions driving people to depression or despair bleeds out as anger. Anger at the situation. Anger at those who don't see the forest for the trees on this. Anger at those who don't understand what you're going through. Or have placed more value on other problems.
I don't think anyone is truly running around with malicious intent at a time like this. I think people are doing the best they can. The way they prioritize problems and values vary based on the experience they're confronted with.
That's where we can't lose sight. We can't forget that another's struggle had a solution that may be in conflict with the solution of ours. Compromise, understanding, compassion, and dare I say it, love are the way out of this. When hopelessness abounds we cannot defeat it with anger. We need to defeat it with love, and aid, and help that brings back hope itself.
I maybe waxing philosophical for some in the broader solution, but I think it's the honest answer. Now for the immediacy of the situation there are other more clinical answers. Reach out if you're struggling. Don't bottle it up. Talk. Get help. Call me, call a loved one, a friend, a mentor, a helpline. Don't wallow in helplessness, anger, depression. This virus has taken enough from us. I don't need to lose anymore, we all don't.
I truly believe we will be better for this if we refuse to give into our basest desires. If we look around us. We're all struggling. If we focused on helping others and getting ourselves the help we needed maybe, just maybe, we would have less conflict and a little more hope.
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