In the same week that was World Suicide Prevention week awareness, a prominent worker, speaker, advocate for those battling depression and suicidal thoughts could not cope any longer and ended his life tragically.
When I heard of Jarrad Wilson’s passing, it struck me how insidious, how lethal the weight of mental health issues are and how it attacks people, even the one who reached out and helped so many in their quest to be a little more calm, a little more at peace with themselves, to feel like they could just have a good day or a good moment once in a while.
It struck me how insidious, how lethal the weight of mental health issues are and how it attacks people
I’ve referenced in earlier posts my battle and fight with the thoughts in my head and while I’m so much better than I was years ago, there are moments when a moment, a circumstance, a problem will arise and I can sense a little twinge in my mind start to ring…
Thankfully, I have learned how to turn and tune out the twinges before they become a loud ringing in the mind and spirit but I do understand and can empathize the struggle so many have.
While there has been a concerted effort to destigmatize the past thought progressions that those who struggle with mental health issues are weak, losers, problem people etc., there are still many who feel if they say that they are struggling will be ostracized or those that will condemn the one struggling.
There are still many who feel if they say that they are struggling will be ostracized and/or the same people ostracizing will condemn the one struggling.
I’ve added some information below and will add more information in the next Motivational Monday’s “We Are Not Alone” but a few things to consider. I am grateful that many people are finding their voice to speak up and out because the need is great!!
If you are struggling with the thoughts in your head and you feel like life is spinning and you can’t stop it, as hard as it may seem to do, please don’t go it alone.
Find someone; it could be a family member, a teacher, a clergy, a friend, a co-worker, a health professional but find someone and so many times, the saving grace for someone was just one person who helped them get help.
In our heavily integrated technology world, we have seemingly become more disconnected.
Many don’t answer their phone to talk but will answer a text instead and then take a call.
Many will text their conversations rather than speak face to face; some even text conversations while sitting mere inches apart.
In our heavily integrated technology world, we have seemingly become more disconnected.
I still believe one of the aches of the human condition is for someone to share life’s moments with. Not just in a marriage but in a friendship, companionship.
I don’t want to just paint a picture, compose a song, model a room, take a trip, eat a slice of pie, smell the bloom of a rose, explore a new city, play a board game, drink coffee (for me: Hot Chocolate) on my own; we were made for connection.
I think we take it for granted that everyone around us is okay until we find out they’re not okay. Maybe we are too scared to find out what’s around the corner of someone’s life so we when we hear, “I’m Good” after asking how they are, we move on.
We, when we hear, “I’m Good” after asking how they are, move on.
It’s crazy; sometimes when we are weighed down, we want to say it sucks but are afraid of the reaction we’d get and if someone says they are in trouble, we kind of feel stuck. What do we do with what we hear?
But if we are connected as a mutual human mosaic as Dr. King Jr. said, then we must not be afraid of the discomfort of pain in someone’s life because maybe we could be part of the healing process in their life.
Maybe we cannot be afraid to reach out because maybe, just maybe the ray of hope we’ve been looking for is standing in front of us and it’s in the person we decided to tell of our distress too.
Even people of great stature struggle with the mind. One of my personal encouraging stories in the Bible is that of the prophet Elijah. He had won a big battle against the King and Queen’s seers and essentially the kingdom but in the next sequence, we see him running for his life into the desert.
He wanted to give up and die but God sent an angel to get him to eat something and drink some water because he had unfinished business and he couldn’t do it slumped under a desert broom tree.
He had unfinished business and he couldn’t do it slumped under a desert broom tree.
Could it be that our lives, however painful at times still have value? Maybe we need to take a chance of some sort or maybe it will be an outstretched hand to help us move an inch but we need to know we are not alone!
We are a mutually connected human mosaic that needs each other!
If this connected with you, either to encourage you to take a step to reach out for help or that maybe your eyes will be opened to see past the surface of what people say to maybe where they really are, then read some of the information below.
Even pass this post along to someone who could use a helping hand or be a helping hand.
We Are Not Alone..
Dave
#ForwardFriday #mentalillness #notalone #gethelp #beahelpinghand #blog #speaker #hopeinthedarkness #rayoflight #WeAreNotAlone #mutualhumanmosiac #weareconnected
Resources Thoughts On Mental Illness
It can be scary when someone you love and care about is sick. It can be especially scary if they’re diagnosed with a mental illness. It’s hard to see someone you love in pain and it’s confusing when someone you know well is not acting like themselves. You know how you would take care of them if they had a cold or flu, but what do you do for a mental illness?
Like any other health problem, someone with a mental illness needs extra love and support. You may not be able to see the illness, but it doesn’t mean that you’re powerless to help.
How Can We Help?
Research confirms that support from family and friends is a key part of helping someone who is going through a mental illness. This support provides a network of practical and emotional help. These networks can be made up of parents, children, siblings, spouses or partners, extended families, close friends and others who care about us like neighbors, coworkers, coaches and teachers. Some people have larger networks than others, but most of us have at least a few people who are there for us when we need them.
There are a number of major ways that family and friends can help in someone’s journey of recovery from a mental illness:
Knowing when something is wrong—or right: Getting help early is an important part of treating mental illness. Family and friends are often the first ones to notice that something is wrong.
Seeking help: Families and friends can be important advocates to help loved ones get through those hard, early stages of having a mental illness.
Providing emotional support: You can play an important role in helping someone who’s not feeling well feel less alone and ashamed. They are not to blame for their illness, but they may feel that they are, or may be getting that message from others. You can help encourage hope.
How do I know when to help?
Some signs that a friend or family member may have a mental illness and could need your help are:
They suddenly no longer have interest in hobbies and other interests they used to love
They seem to feel angry or sad for little or no reason
They don’t seem to enjoy anything anymore
They have told you about or seem to be hearing strange voices or having unsettling thoughts
They seem emotionally numb, like they don’t feel anything anymore
They used to be healthy, but now they’re always saying they feel a bit sick
They eat a lot more or less than they used to
Their sleep patterns have changed
They seem to be anxious or terrified about situations or objects in life that seem normal to you and to others
They’ve been missing more and more time from work or school
They’ve been drinking heavily and/or using drugs to cope
They are talking about taking their life or feeling hopeless
They are avoiding their close friends and family members
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