We Must Stop the Stigmas

I want to talk about something here, and that is mental health. Now, I want to state up front that I am not an expert on mental health. The extent of my knowledge on the subject is pretty small. I suffer with some anxiety and depression, as I know a lot of chronic pain sufferers do, but other than that, I don’t really have much experience with it.

So, despite not being an expert, I want to breech the subject now in light of what happened this week in Las Vegas. For those of you who don’t know, there was a mass casualty shooting in Las Vegas at a concert this week that killed 58 innocent, precious lives and injured 489 other innocent victims. It was the most deadly shooting event in United States history. One crazed shooter rented a hotel room at a high-rise hotel above a venue that was hosting a country music festival with over 22,000 attendees. For 10 straight minutes he shot several guns out 2 different windows down onto the concert goers killing and injuring over 500 victims. It’s incomprehensible. It’s heartbreaking. It’s soul crushing. There are no adequate words to explain how I feel. I’ve cried several times this week thinking about the victims and seeing stories of heroism, survival, and amazing lives that were lived and cut short. I’ve also been so proud to be an American hearing stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to help fellow Americans. I watched Monday night football and they did a moment of silence for the Vegas victims and then the National Anthem, and there were no protests by players or other things going on (football and politics have been in an uproar lately). It was simply about Americans standing together to support each other and this country. I just cried because as I listened to the anthem I kept thinking about being an American and what that means to me. I’m just sick to think of those that lost their lives.

What does this have to do with mental health? That’s what they say is the cause of this. They say one man “went crazy” and decided to massacre innocent people. I’ve heard so many stories about how he should have been treated for mental health problems before now and this could have been prevented. I’ve heard people saying there is no way he could have hid his mental health problems from those close to him, like his girlfriend and his brother. I’ve heard people say he must have been suffering with everything from depression to bi-polar to schizophrenia. And what’s the truth? Unfortunately, we will probably never know unless he actually saw a physician and was being treated, which doesn’t seem like the situation.

My first thought is this. Can you hide mental health issues from those closest to you? The simple answer is, yes. But that’s the simple answer. I have suffered with mild depression for about 13 years now, and most people close to me don’t know. It’s well taken care of by medication and unless I told a person, they probably would have no idea. I have recently started suffering with anxiety, and that’s a little harder to “hide”. First of all, I want to say that I’m not trying to hide it, but it is something that can be hidden and I know a lot of people feel more comfortable keeping it hidden due to personal reasons and\or stigmas. So, when I’m suffering an anxiety “attack” it’s hard to keep that hidden from those who are with me. Some people have had other mental health problems (bi-polar, etc) for years without others knowing. I think of celebrities who have had mental health problems for years and have lived their lives in the spotlight without anyone ever knowing. But then I know people who have family members who have started acting differently and there have been some red flags going up that make them question. So what’s the case with the Vegas gunman? I don’t know. His brother and girlfriend have both stated that they didn’t see anything in him that would make them think he had a mental health issue. They had been with him and didn’t know. Is that possible? A lot of people are saying no, but I think the answer is yes, definitely.

My second thought is this. Is there such a thing as just “snapping”? Just having an unexpected mental health break down? Yes. I know this is true. It can happen for no reason, it can happen because people have stopped taking their medications, it can happen because of someones surroundings. I don’t think that’s the case in the Vegas shooting though. He had been collecting an unprecedented amount of guns and ammunition. He had rented the hotel room for several days before the shooting and slowly brought the guns in. He had guns on tripods so he could shoot faster. This wasn’t him just sitting in a hotel room with a gun and “going crazy” and deciding to shoot. He had thought this out. This was premeditated. So, while there is a thing such as snapping, this person didn’t do that.

My last thought is this. We need to talk about mental health more. We need to get rid of the stigmas. We need insurance companies to cover mental health issues the same way they cover physical health issues. We get a physical once a year to make sure our body is healthy, so why don’t we get a mental health exam regularly too? Why don’t we treat our mental health the same way we treat our physical health? I don’t have an answer for that, but I think it’s a question we need to ask LOUD and ask a LOT! We can’t be silent. Could discussing mental health prevent tragedies? My personal opinion is yes. I think we can’t stop getting the word out about mental health and we must stop the stigmas!

I’m sorry if this seems like a rant. I have just had so many thoughts going through my head lately and I don’t know how to best express my thoughts and feelings. But I do honestly believe that we need to discuss mental health more often with more people and get rid of the stigmas that follow it. How do we do that? I don’t know. But I feel like it’s necessary. We must stop the stigmas and get the word out that it’s something to talk about and recognize. 

Kayla

Keep the Faith

On this weekend, I've found myself confronted with my faith in many occasions and I've got some conclusions about it. First, know that I'm a Catholic and that I'm still a Catholic. Second, know that I've had some amazing experiences with members of the church, and I've seen that faith can be a huge motivator in someone's life as it gives us a meaning, something to cling to.

But I study psychology, and I've seen how harsh church has been with people with mental and physical conditions. I've seen how they've been called possessed by demons, curses and stuff like that. Through history. And yes, I know that it has changed, but somehow the mentality of psychological and physical issues are connected to a mystical thing and therefore that's the explanation and solution.

I'm not denying evil things happen. I'm not denying evil exists, I do believe it does. And as it does, I believe in greater good. I believe that good exists, guided by love and compassion, and that the religion I participate in is founded in those principles which are often forgotten. 

And this week, for things of destiny, I found myself in discussions explaining to people why people with mental health issues are mental health issues. Not religious issues. 

Yes, faith can be a huge mobilizer. I do, I pray a lot and I've found in prayer and meditation strength and understanding. I've found inspiration in some saints lives, as Saint Therese of Avila, and a patron who gets my pain. But I believe that part of the education and desestigmatization relies in accepting conditions for what they are. And even some are more stigmatized than others, or harder to get, that doesn't mean they have a diabolical component. I believe, saying someone that, that they are the way they are because the devil resides in them can be absolutely traumatic. 

Having a mental health condition is a burden enough, is hard enough, is traumatic and difficult enough. And if you add to that the fact of demons and possessions, well it doesn't make it any easier. I do believe that it helps to give it all to God, and to say that if this is the path I must walk, He will guide me to get why it is so hard. But I do believe in a mercy full, loving, caring God who loves us, the ones who suffer, more than we imagine. And part of showing the love, the charity, the compassion and caring, is to make people feel that they are worth it no matter their conditions, and to never, ever, make them feel like an outcast. 

And there resides my fight. That even if you have a diagnosis, people won't get you and act in a manner someone doesn't understand, that doesn't mean you are evil or the evil resides in you. Even if your condition makes you disconnect from reality, which makes it so much harder for you and the ones you love to get by, that doesn't mean you are evil or the evil resides in you. 

There's no greater teaching that I've got from being a Catholic than love. Love is the greatest force of the planet. Love is what makes everything meaningful, as my favorite Saint said 5 centuries ago. Love is the greatest manifestation of God. And to love others is to accept them, diagnosis or not, and to know they are good enough as any other human being. Love means that you can get treated, and have a perfectly imperfect life full of loving yourself and others.

That's why I'm still a Catholic. As much as somethings are hard to deal with, I believe in love greater than any kind of evil. And that when you battle a condition, you can feel like you are living in hell. But you are not possessed, you are one hell of a warrior. And God will be proud of you for that. 

Mariana