THE SILENT ASSAULT ON OUR MENTAL HEALTH

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THEY SAY THAT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS THE SILENT KILLER, BUT THERE IS ANOTHER. FOR ANYONE UNAWARE OR IN DENIAL, EVERYONE OF US HAS, IS OR SOON WILL BE AFFECTED PSYCHOLOGICALLY BY THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES. ALTHOUGH THE PRESENT APPEARS TO MIMIC PATTERNS WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN TIMES PAST THERE ARE DISTINCT DIFFERENCES. OUR NON-COOPERATIVE ACCELERATED WORLDWIDE INTEGRATION, EXTENDED LIFE EXPECTANCY AND INATTENTION TO MENTAL HEALTH HAS MANY UNEXPECTED RAMIFICATIONS. THE EFFECTS ARE OFF THE CHART! THIS NEW ENVIRONMENT CAN EASILY OVERWHELM THE BEST OF US. HEALTH IS A MEASURE OF OUR OVERALL WELL-BEING. UNFORTUNATELY MANY OF US ARE UNAWARE OF HOW THIS NEW CHART IS CONSTRUCTED AND EVEN FEWER KNOW HOW TO READ IT! GAUGING TODAY'S CHALLENGES AND ISSUES WITH YESTERDAYS STANDARDS, IS SIMILAR TO USING CANDLEPOWER TO MEASURE LIGHT INTENSITY OR A SUNDIAL TO MEASURE TIME. THIS POST EXAMINES THE REALITIES OF THIS AGE AND AGING. ADDITIONALLY, IT EXAMINES OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH, PERSONAL HEALTH, THE HEALTH OF OTHERS AND THE HEALTH OF THE WORLD.

TRUTH NEVER CHANGES BUT OUR UNDERSTANDING OF TRUTH MUST!

Gaining ​knowledge should ALWAYS expose more of our ignorance. If it does not, that indicates we are just absorbing more information. It may make us smarter but not wiser. Knowing what to do usually precedes knowing how to do it. Dealing with mental health issues are no exception. Unfortunately society has a long history of ignoring, shaming or shunning people suffering with mental maladies. When all we're used to working with is a hammer, we tend to treat everything else like a nail. Macbeth faced this dilemma when seeking a cure for his wife.
​ "Canst thou not minister to a mind diseas'd,
Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow,
Raze out the written troubles of the brain,
And with some sweet oblivious antidote
Cleanse the stuff'd bosom of that perilous stuff
Which weighs upon the heart?"
​The doctors answer did not please Macbeth who could put a sword to his enemies but could not rout this disease. Likewise many of our tactics also fail without the proper tools required. We are very likely to feel annoyance, disappointment and finally discouragement when dealing with "matters of the mind." ​Unfulfilled expectations are often the main sources of our frustrations. Things that we cannot fix or that remain unresolved despite our efforts are often internalized as failures. This compels us to blame someone or something else. Mental health is a sensitive subject. Traumatic experiences, whether experienced, heard about or seen have become more prevalent due to information overload. We can easily become apathetic or overwhelmed by it. Difficulties of any kind may create a sense of helplessness and/or loss that can induce invisible or silent mental suffering. Defeat is inevitable if we fail to find the tools we need or learn to fight a battle that redefines which achievements and factors constitute a victory. The spirit in which we approach the problems we face in this day and time are directly tied to our sense of well-being. When we get perplexed "internal brooding" and "external pouting" occurs. It can be sensed in our voices and attitude. Feeling trapped often accompanies a mood of helplessness which adds to our level of frustration. Ultimately these "conditions" incite holding a grudge which in turn fosters an environment  ripe for the "spirit of unforgiveness."

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CHANGING TIMES CALL FOR CHANGING STRATEGIES AND TACTICS

Most of us know that there is more than one way to skin a cat, but so few of us actually have learned those ways. We stubbornly default to the methods that worked in the past and cram them down the throat of others. The truth is that we all need some level of therapy in one form or another. The idea that we can go through life and deal with everything on our own is absolutely contrary to our design. The 3 stages in the cycle of life advance forward and reverse backwards for us all. As infants we are totally dependent. As children we gradually learn to be more and more independent then eventually we grow up. As adults, hopefully we'll embrace interdependence at the highest level of the maturity continuum. One mistake many of us make is not understanding how the reversal process works. Unrealistic expectations coupled with a lack of understanding only leads to frustration. Our attempts to fix something that cannot be fully restored demonstrates that we lack the capacity to administer the compassionate care required. As nitpicking imperfect perfectionist with punitive dispositions we are not equipped in mind or spirit to lovingly deal with diminishing capacity in "seemingly"capable individuals. Therapy may not  yield the results expected.  Many times therapy simply brings relief. The mind is a complex and fragile instrument that require maintenance just like our bodies. Providing assistance and care for mentally challenged individuals requires a graceful and understanding attitude. Familiarity can easily incite contempt. This is common among close loved ones like parents and spouses. Responding to aberrant behaviors in a personal manner clouds our judgement. It is unfortunate that most people embrace a punitive approach to correction. When we say that we hope they "learn a lesson," or we "teach them a lesson" personally; its done in a "spirit of ill will." Punishing a sickness cannot cure it. Usually it makes things worse. Anger towards an illness does not provide healing. Sometimes we innately desire to put these offenders in the penalty box with phrases like, "I hope they get what they deserve." ​Often we know what the problem is but we don't know what to do about it or how to solve it. When physical health fails muscle strength diminishes noticeably. When mental health fails, thinking and reasoning become obviously compromised. Patiently managing it is the answer. Improvements will not be recognized without knowing what to look for! However if we cannot manage our emotions this assault on mental health will spread just like Covid-19. It may take us a while as a species to adapt to the ramifications of sensory bombardment, coupled with longevity and mixed with natural factors of declination. We've warned followers in our previous posts to prepare. This is not a doomsday prediction, it is simply a natural progression. The assault has long begun; deal with it!

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WE CAN'T SEE IT, HEAR IT, SMELL IT OR TASTE IT BUT IT'S OBVIOUS. WE ARE LIVING LONGER AND LONGEVITY HAS BOTH ITS PERKS AND DOWNSIDE.