Have you ever overheard a conversation, perhaps in person or maybe even in the media where someone says something and you think to yourself, "Why .....would they say that?" or "What.....would make them think (like) that?" or "How can they live in such a way?"
Yea, me too.
A lot of examples can be found in what are the current GOP candidates aiming to win the nomination of their party in hopes of going against the current POTUS. A number of remarks that have been made surely had fellow republicans cringing, slapping their foreheads and thinking to themselves, "Why the....did you say that?!"
It's interesting really...the way people carry on their lives, conduct their personal business and generally seem to ascribe to what they do know without being cognizant of what they don't know.
Many of us are on this ever "forsaken" journey or quest for knowledge to find the ultimate truth (i.e. The answer to life, the universe and everything). A good number of people arrive to this place where they find the answer isn't 42, but Jesus Christ. Others, not so much.
The way we think and consequently don't think continues to bury us deeper into a downtrodden abyss, much of which consists of despair, low esteem for ourselves/fellow man, and ignorance.
Mark 9:24b (NKJV)
“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
Amen.
Most recently I've become intrigued with mental health and the inner workings of the mind. "Why?", you may ask. It's simple really. After having been involved in a number of "life changing" experiences throughout my 2 decades in the world of academia, I have come across a wide variety of individuals. Many are very learned or astute, others specialize in various areas of life outside of the academy. It's all fine and dandy so long as you know what you do best.
SPOILER ALERT: Here's my beef....problem...pet peeve...issue with folks these days.
Many of us don't think to the best of our ability, whether it's due to our education (or lack there of), upbringing (or lack there of), or preferences (or lack there of). You can quickly "channel surf" through much of the offerings today on satellite, digital cable, and the internet only to find that we are being fed some of the same old garbage and in many cases it's because we "don't know any better"...like, really...we DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER....or at least some of us do and are trying to influence the minds of others. I unfortunately fall in both categories. Therein lies the issue.
I was an AmeriCorps member once upon a time in my life, serving domestically here in the US(as the name suggests). There was an instance when I was speaking to my residents encouraging them (most likely in the name of taking their community back from thugs and drugs) and said, "When you know better, you do better." The truth is...when you apply what you know, then you can do better...I know a lot and I'm still not there yet.
Going back to my interest in mental health, I've been pondering the possibility of seminary (a place where many of the religious leaders go to get some type of "formal" training and education in the area of ministry), and if I were to attend would most probably seek a PhD in mental health (counseling) or something to that effect...and as always, it has to be paid for (by someone other than me). My tieing of further education to this particular interest is because I am deeply troubled (on a spiritual level) by the amount of mental illness which surrounds me, both diagnosed as well as that which is not (diagnosed). For the record I put any form of denial and refusal to accept the truth (which is a form of denial in a sense) as a part of "mental illness" (for the purposes of this posting).
The nation as a whole and most likely the world needs to go through a "brain scrub". Possibly one of the icons of our time and times past might be able to help.
Let's take a look at some examples and see how these personas might be rehabilitated in their thinking.
Charlie is a teenage boy who struggles with what seems to be symptoms of OCD. He often forces himself to take certain paths even within the comfort of his home, rarely taking the direct route (i.e. Taking the long way). If you were to stand in his way he'd ask you to move or wait for the path to become clear. He prefers certain things to be in a specific place or position and if you (out of spite or for a good laugh) move such items he will adamantly ensure with immediacy that everything is placed again to his liking. He even goes as far as to make a concerned face at the person involved in the moving of "his stuff" although these may be household items and not particularly possessed by him.
Keisha is a 20 something foreign exchange student that has been in the states for approximately 3 years. Prior to entering the exchange program at her university she had never been to the US. The culture shock among other things had caused her to react with what seems to be "stress responses". She is easily worried about things going wrong and tends to be inwardly focused due to a heightened level of suspicion in a place that has much negativity (about it) publicized in her homeland. At times things have to be done a certain way, because that's how she's always done it. This is also the case if an alternative or suggestion is made that would save her time. Change isn't something that she embraces with ease even if it is a simple one.
Sara is 18 and recently enrolled in the US Military. While waiting to start her training she happens upon an increased amount of stress in her life. Much of this is due to her family situation since she is halfway across the country from her parents living with a cousin in hopes of "staying out of trouble". This has her separated from her younger sister but also under the care of a family member who is only 2 years her senior and not responsible for that matter. She is constantly plagued by "what people make her do" (e.g. Get angry) and an addiction to feeling the need to have to respond to text messages and answer the private calls on her cell phone. These calls generally lead to more harassment from a childhood friend who was abusive during their relationship. To make matters worse she is working part-time at a fast food restaurant but doesn't get along with her supervisor. There have been several cases where health issues arose as a result of the buildup of her stress.
Brenda is 23 and has been working at her first full-time job since graduating from college. She's in a new city with family members and is currently in her probationary period. Often she is energetic and amiable with her coworkers until it comes down to a suggestion of her being wrong or misguided. The way that she deals with this happens in one of two ways. She either makes an effort to change the subject by agreeing to disagree in such a way that it seems as if the conversation is over, or directly tell you "Are you saying I'm wrong?!"
In these instances much of the conversation tends to be around her sense of negativity despite being energetic and amiable towards most people.
We'll start with Brenda and work our way back.
Brenda's main issue is that she is unable to accept the fact that she may be wrong, especially when she is. One way that might help her is if she tried to become more open-minded to the fact that she doesn't know it all and could benefit if she learned from the criticism of being wrong. She might also try being more positive in her outlook on life in addition to her energetic personality.
Sara could easily handle her stress in a healthier manner if she took time to detox by detaching herself from certain hazardous practices. For example, with her cell phone she doesn't always have to respond to text messages or answer private phone calls. (I'm not sure why she answers those calls without an expectation that someone will be calling her from a blocked number.) Also, I alluded to the chance that she might have trouble controlling her emotions. Lastly, she may have toxic relationships with people in her life who are destroying her more so than building her up.
Keisha could benefit from becoming more flexible and also taking time to try different things and experience old preferences in new ways. Her rigidity has her boxed in and feeling as if there's one "right way" of doing things. She also might benefit by befriending someone who could be a "safeguard" as she adjusts to her new "home", assisting her in the transition and helping to acclimate her to the "new" way of life.
Charlie will have to learn, these obsessions can lead to unhealthy and essentially resource draining practices. This might cost him to lose time, efficiency and money in the future (if not currently). This could also make dating tough for the young lad if a companion found themselves unable to deal with this type of behavior.
I feel that people aren't born "crazy" but that we choose to be this way by the virtue of our choices or the choices made by those who have influence to affect our lives. Another important note is that in order to move beyond any type of situation or circumstance, you must first accept what's really going on. If the truth is that you tend to display OCD like tendencies or act in a way that suggests bipolar disorder, don't be afraid to seek counsel to ensure that this isn't the case. If it is, work on it. There are ways of coping and you'll be a better person for doing so. Acceptance of who others are and wherever they may be in their life journey is of equal importance as well; some things provide a nominal level of comfort to folks.
This is about more than psychiatric or psychological mental illness. It's also about how the way we think or don't think continues to improve or impoverish our well being as well as the lives of those who come behind us. You want a better world? Rehabilitate your mental and influence others to positively rehabilitate theirs.
We know better. Let's do better.
