THE SPIRITUAL SIDE OF STRESS & MENTAL HEALTH

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This may be a perspective many haven't considered but there will be a spike in the number of minorities needing mental health services. Although some may not acknowledge it, this necessity for counseling and therapy is due directly to the consequences of racism coupled with the corona virus and the built in systemic imbalances that are becoming more and more obvious. Our crime statistics will not reflect the number of offenses that will be a direct result from the stress of being discriminated against, displaced and disregarded. These acts come from people who don't get paid sick days or vacations. Retirement and pension plans are not in the description of most poor or disenfranchised workers. The "spirits" of many suppressed emotions are now surfacing and many of the victims are unaware of it. This new strain of P.T.S.D. along with a heightened sense of inequities and social injustice has come into play creating uncertain feelings about life in general. Unfortunately many minorities have already succumbed to the systemic stresses carried forward through the legacy and symbols of racism. Health care for slaves was non existent, they had to "suck it up" or invent self administered solutions. The legacy of racism and slavery has caused some of our minority cultures to develop a traditional aversion to, and distrust for, doctors in general. Along with being denied health care financially, our system abuses and exploits those least able to advocate for themselves yet most in need of help. Some cultures tend to frown at consulting health care professionals especially for mental health issues. The "spirit of racism," besides promoting external animosity, has a "side effect" that spawns internal loathing or resentment resulting in "same culture" and "self" hate. Unbeknownst to most victims of racism is that the "spirit of hate" has planted a seed of invisible abhorrence that keeps the victim perpetually stressed while slowly eating away at them. Without "healing" that addresses the comorbidity of both spiritual and psychological issues mental maladies will flourish. Spiritual infections, which operate in spirit (attitude/behavior/consciousness), are deceptive and have multiple variations of disguise. Racism is a spirit that scars many of its victims for life. Although most of society fails to address the spiritual aspects of our existence, they nevertheless are behind all causation and the interactions we observe from day to day. Spiritual dilemmas require spiritual solutions. The "spirit of racism" is so insidious in that it is both socially and self destructive. It may appear to be obvious how wrong racism is, but some folk willingly carry it to their grave. Racism's message within the consciousness of the majority says that all men are not created equal. This is the type of prejudice that breeds both external and Internal racism which plagues many minority cultures and creates self loathing leading to depression, suicide and violence. Hating one's own skin color is a learned phenomena endorsed by a "system of beliefs" that complexion influences direction. This is one of many uncomfortable truths about racism and that truth is easily overlooked because it has a tendency to make us feel uncomfortable. The truth is that stress of systemic racism is a public safety and health emergency.

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We are naturally inclined to believe whatever we are taught or told about things unless we discover obvious differences between our beliefs and reality. Sometimes even after such evidence people choose to be in denial of fact. There are unaccounted for stresses that go along with being impoverished, insecure or unhealthy. Many time the victims of these conditions are unaware of the fact that they are already suffering from their circumstances and so ignorance becomes bliss. However when they are made aware of how poorly they fare compared to others it results in additional stress. Dealing with the reality of this painful condition causes the victims to seek relief by any means available. Some resort to intoxicants, some to religious beliefs of eternal bliss in the hereafter and others to psychological and social destructive behaviors. It is similar to banging one's head against a wall and enjoying the relief that occurs when the torture momentarily ceases. Stress, like most actions and feelings is not in and of itself either good or bad. There are two basic types of stress. There are physical stresses, sometimes considered good stress. There is also emotional stresses which are induced or created mentally. Stress in and of itself is neither good or bad it is simply a form of built in resistance to change. This pressure or tension creates a state of physical, mental or emotional strain that can be beneficial or detrimental. Stress is a normal part of life. We are concentrating on emotional or mental stresses and its hidden manifestations. Although the underlying causes are spiritual there are three primary types of mental stress with five associated stages. Rather than approaching this topic from a psychological perspective, let's consider how difficult it can be to fit into a rapidly changing and accelerating society today. The main reason that we struggle in life is because as a species we live life wrong. Humanity was designed to live in harmony with its own kind and the rest of nature. When we live a lifestyle that is in conflict with, or in opposition to, natural law we create imbalances that adds stresses to both our emotional and spiritual well-being. Natural laws are easy to observe and discover. Natural law includes all the rules of daily phenomena defined by physics. Sayings like "what goes up must come down" and the logic that follows that area of science can be described as natural law. Natural law incorporates the natural forces of resistance that work in conjunction with one another and enable the operation of other phenomena such as flight, floating and fire.

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The complementary aspects of all nature synchronizes our interrelated activities in such a way that even opposing forces work for the benefit of process and progress. It is a mistake to categorize any energy or force as either good or evil. The same wind that can be destructive in the form of a hurricane or tornado helps both birds and bees to fly and assists in the pollination (sexual intercourse) of plants. Is the wind evil or good? It is neither. The wind is just the wind, without its force of resistance all flight fails. The spiritual side of stress does not suggest that spirits have feelings or can be pressured. Spirits are the manifestation of the feelings we have, they inhabit attitude, behavior and consciousness. The "spirit of health" includes the physical, mental, emotional, psychological and every other aspect of our coexistence with all of nature. Flowers and plants "seemingly" do not worry, get anxious or become fearful. Good spiritual health lends itself to having good overall health in every aspect of our being. The spirit in which we approach the problems we face in this day and time are directly tied to our sense of well-being. We can use stress to build strength or allow stress to zap it away. So much of what we are experiencing today is quite unsettling and as Thomas Paine once said "try men's souls." As "non-white" minorities continue to fall victim to the ravages of racism, trust in our system of justice is eroding while frustration with the system is growing. The "spirit of fear" has risen to the point that we are afraid to turn our backs to authority without getting shot in it. When our leaders lack the intestinal fortitude to examine their hearts for a moral compass it creates an atmosphere of hostility and tension. Watch out! The "spirit of stress" is subtle. The manifestation of this spirit ranges from angry outbursts to suppressed emotions. Everybody on all sides is subject to this pressure. Citizens will be quicker to rebel and resist. Cops will be quicker to abuse and to shoot. This is not fear mongering this is how the science of spirit operates. So how can we identify or deal with it? A shred of truth no longer can be spun into an acceptable complete narrative. Remember spiritual problems require spiritual solutions and although we may address them chemically with drugs, or psychologically with therapies, the core cause must be resolved in spirit. Seeking temporary relief for long term issues calls for repeated treatments. Like with many alcoholics the problem is managed but the patient is never fully healed. Addressing the spiritual side of stress calls for examining and redefining the perceived crisis while transforming it into a temporary circumstance which we will keep from affecting our values and purposes in life. The sense of losing control over things that were never fully under our control is unsettling and creates a false narrative that is juxtaposed to expressing true spirituality through faith. We can begin to restore our personal peace through relaxing in the quiet and "flowing stillness" of connecting ourselves with nature and with God. Spiritual logic sometimes defies common sense and transcends regular reasoning. We must do better to feel better and be better. By finding meaning through our productive and satisfying callings we will  ultimately embrace the "spirit of fulfillment" while we do whatever we do on this leg of the journey.

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