Love, kindness and acceptance
I think I realized something for the first time in my short career working in mental health nursing. To be honest, I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner. How is it that when someone describes somebody with a mental illness, words that come to mind are "sociopath," "criminal," "crazy." I know that's not the opinion of the majority, but in lieu of a recent shooting about 3 and a half hours northeast from where I'm currently living, assumptions are made that the shooter "had a mental illness" or "was crazy." And yes, I have worked with criminals before. I've worked with folks who have been incarcerated before. I've walked patients out the door who were met with police officers due to having outstanding warrants. But you know what else? Some of the folks I've worked with have been some of the kindest, most loving and accepting folks I've ever had encountered.
We could learn from them. We can learn from one another, can't we?
As I write this, trying not to cry, one particular patient comes to mind. It's one that I will not soon forget. Younger, an Iraqi war veteran, but due to injury and post-traumatic stress struggled with depression, suicidal ideation and an addiction to opiates. Yet all of the days that I was there, this person was constantly looking out for everyone else, all the while wrestling with all of their demons. Part of the 12-Step process is seeking out other addicts and extending a helping hand to them. It's a REQUIREMENT for their recovery, and most of them are very eager and willing to do so. Most of them don't believe in any sort of entity. Kind of backwards, huh? Anyway, but the realization I came to was that I believe the reason they're so kind and accepting is because they have been there. Even if their illness doesn't wear the same face as the patient in the room across the hall from them, society has thrown the same blanket of judgment over all of them. Society, in some cases even their own families, has ostracized them as bad people and criminals who just belong in jail, surrendered to the fate of a failing judicial system. You know what the sad thing is? Some of them really believe that about themselves.
This is why I am so passionate about mental health. Because somebody has to be. These folks have been through enough, haven't they? Some of them have given up their family, friends and freedom for the sake of seeking treatment just to get their heads back on right. Some of these folks have fought for our country. Some of these folks, at one point, were very respected in their communities and excelled in their careers. Like I said, the thoughts I've posted above are not the opinions of all, I do know this. I'm not about to begin a witch hunt, seeking everyone out and forcing them to change their opinions, I can't do that. That's not my job. My job is to protect those I made a pledge to care for, and as long as I am able to do so, I will. Somebody has to.
We could learn from them. We can learn from one another, can't we?
As I write this, trying not to cry, one particular patient comes to mind. It's one that I will not soon forget. Younger, an Iraqi war veteran, but due to injury and post-traumatic stress struggled with depression, suicidal ideation and an addiction to opiates. Yet all of the days that I was there, this person was constantly looking out for everyone else, all the while wrestling with all of their demons. Part of the 12-Step process is seeking out other addicts and extending a helping hand to them. It's a REQUIREMENT for their recovery, and most of them are very eager and willing to do so. Most of them don't believe in any sort of entity. Kind of backwards, huh? Anyway, but the realization I came to was that I believe the reason they're so kind and accepting is because they have been there. Even if their illness doesn't wear the same face as the patient in the room across the hall from them, society has thrown the same blanket of judgment over all of them. Society, in some cases even their own families, has ostracized them as bad people and criminals who just belong in jail, surrendered to the fate of a failing judicial system. You know what the sad thing is? Some of them really believe that about themselves.
This is why I am so passionate about mental health. Because somebody has to be. These folks have been through enough, haven't they? Some of them have given up their family, friends and freedom for the sake of seeking treatment just to get their heads back on right. Some of these folks have fought for our country. Some of these folks, at one point, were very respected in their communities and excelled in their careers. Like I said, the thoughts I've posted above are not the opinions of all, I do know this. I'm not about to begin a witch hunt, seeking everyone out and forcing them to change their opinions, I can't do that. That's not my job. My job is to protect those I made a pledge to care for, and as long as I am able to do so, I will. Somebody has to.
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