Hello there, I invite you to take a sneak peek into my mind, but first let me introduce myself, my name is Frida, I am a Psychotherapist a Coach, and my mental state is NOT always well…and you know what?
Neither is yours…
So, now that I let the cat out of the bag about the fact that there is not one human on the planet, including therapists, doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists managers and CEO’s and everyone in-between, including healers, that are always 100% mentally well, as opposed to ill…we can get deeper into the actual reality, and perhaps reframe what we think, and have been told about “mental illness”, as well as how we respond to people who are actively in expressing their current state of not-feeling-so-well.
I want to make something pointedly clear…gone are the days that we refer to someone as mentally ill, we are all on the spectrum somewhere, and we ALL, slide up and down on the scale of wellness to illness, depending what is going on in our lives, what happened in our childhoods, what medical, and other contexts we find ourselves in.
A crystal-clear example is COVID… no one saw it coming and we could not predict how it would impact us each on a very deep level, in unique ways, also depending on the situation we found ourselves in before it even became a pandemic…were we employed, were we ill with other conditions, were we capable of self-regulation, were we already anxious and stressed to the hilt?
Maybe it’s time for us to have another look at what mental illness, and the stigma associated around that really is, where it comes from and write a new mental script for ourselves around the issue?
Here’s the crux of the matter; as soon as we define someone as mentally ill, we filter our responses to them through a broken glass, that diminishes and distorts the person in front of us, yet we get vehemently upset when it is done to us? How do we let this happen, what is our paradigm error?
Stigma is when someone sees you in a negative way because of your mental illness. Discrimination is when someone treats you in a negative way because of your mental illness. Social stigma and discrimination can make mental health problems worse and stop a person from getting the help they need.
So, what are we thinking? Yes, I know a diagnosis is a VITAL part of getting the correct assistance for an issue, and I totally agree with that, but once diagnosed, can we please rip the label off, and see the Whole PERSON please…it is after all, the whole person’s life that is affected, and all areas need to be seen and understood if a respectful treatment protocol is to be effectively implemented?
It is at this point that I ask you to reflect, really look inside you…am I doing this, we most often do it unconsciously…but it’s time to become conscious about it…NOW!
So, take a moment, evaluate, think, go look, see yourself from inside, and as an observer, how do I relate to a person who is in the throes of a period or state if illness? Do I immediately go into pity and patronize? Or do I stay open, non-judgmental, and kind to a fellow human?
Why can we act compassionately to someone with a visible issue like a broken bone, but not the same when someone is experiencing mental trauma?
And on that note, did you know that almost ALL disorders are as a result of trauma?
You name it, bipolar, borderline, antisocial…the lot, they all have a root in trauma, so who are we to not be compassionate?
The brain and mind are a sensitive and complex thing, and we are still not even remotely near fully understanding it’s working and its reactions to trauma…but until we do, don’t you think KINDNESS, not pity, and patronizing is the best meds we can begin with?
Let me tell you the thing we all need most: feeling safe with others, acceptance, kindness,
So, until we are able to clearly understand the what and how of mental and emotional trauma…please be gentle, see the human not the condition…and act with respect…
In my next article we will look at treatment options and what is the latest and most effective for different types of traumatic experiences…
If you want to connect with me, ask me a question or two, please feel free to reach out on 0824533997, or hello@thinkology.co.za
I am here, no judgement, only understanding…
Author: Spirit Connection
Spirit Connection is an online platform to facilitate connecting light workers with people seeking their help.
