So I normally don't write on weekdays but I heard this really insightful segment on On-point about PTSD. I approach this with caution knowing that this is a sensitive topic to some people close to us but I felt the commentators point was well taken.
The commentator mentioned several things but the core was based upon the fact that we as a society are starved for communion and closeness and as a result, this has an impact on the health of our society.
Case in point is the military. 1/2 of those returning back from active duty are diagnosed with PTSD; whereas very few within native american tribes who participated in other traumatic events such as killing at an early age were diagnosed as such. His hypothesis was the leaving of a brotherhood or comradery into a stressful situation with the need to find a job, to go to school, all alone heightens a condition that if left untreated often results in PTSD.
In today's society we often live far away from family; we work away from family, we don't eat together, we spend a lot of time at the computer or TV and don't develop deep relationships. The stress of coping with life alone is too much for the human body. Depression, PTSD, and other mental sickness certainly aren't caused by but feed upon loneliness and lack of love. The opposite is true as well. Depression and other sicknesses become less apparent as relationships are used as a healing balm to allow us to share, feel loved, appreciated and be healed.
Many times I hear faith connected with healing but I believe love is connected with healing as well. After all, would Naaman be convinced by his servants to follow Elijah and dip in the river jordan 7 times, if he didn't love them? Would the lame person have ever been carried and let down to the top of the roof if he didn't love his friends? Would Jesus have ever gone through what he did as the only man who could do it alone if he didn't love us?
The scriptures say that God is love and that Christ came to bind up the broken heart. By holding a simple conversation with someone and showing compassion, understanding without judgment, we allow ourselves to be tools in the hands of the Lord to heal.
I think sometimes about the family unit and that it isn't given its true measurement of value. The maintaining of family relationships is essential for our development primarily as it fosters the love all of us need to grow and heal. After all, without love we are nothing.
The commentator mentioned several things but the core was based upon the fact that we as a society are starved for communion and closeness and as a result, this has an impact on the health of our society.
Case in point is the military. 1/2 of those returning back from active duty are diagnosed with PTSD; whereas very few within native american tribes who participated in other traumatic events such as killing at an early age were diagnosed as such. His hypothesis was the leaving of a brotherhood or comradery into a stressful situation with the need to find a job, to go to school, all alone heightens a condition that if left untreated often results in PTSD.
In today's society we often live far away from family; we work away from family, we don't eat together, we spend a lot of time at the computer or TV and don't develop deep relationships. The stress of coping with life alone is too much for the human body. Depression, PTSD, and other mental sickness certainly aren't caused by but feed upon loneliness and lack of love. The opposite is true as well. Depression and other sicknesses become less apparent as relationships are used as a healing balm to allow us to share, feel loved, appreciated and be healed.
Many times I hear faith connected with healing but I believe love is connected with healing as well. After all, would Naaman be convinced by his servants to follow Elijah and dip in the river jordan 7 times, if he didn't love them? Would the lame person have ever been carried and let down to the top of the roof if he didn't love his friends? Would Jesus have ever gone through what he did as the only man who could do it alone if he didn't love us?
The scriptures say that God is love and that Christ came to bind up the broken heart. By holding a simple conversation with someone and showing compassion, understanding without judgment, we allow ourselves to be tools in the hands of the Lord to heal.
I think sometimes about the family unit and that it isn't given its true measurement of value. The maintaining of family relationships is essential for our development primarily as it fosters the love all of us need to grow and heal. After all, without love we are nothing.
I sort of agree...to an extent. Love and faith can subdue PTSD for many, but there are also many, many cases where the experiences in Iraq and/or Afghanistan were so severe that soldiers in loving relationships would return home and have triggered reactions so severe that their spouses feared for their lives at times. It's a slow and painfully arduous recovery for them. So...I guess relationships are still a "healing balm"; some just need a lot more balm than others.
ReplyDeleteI sort of agree...to an extent. Love and faith can subdue PTSD for many, but there are also many, many cases where the experiences in Iraq and/or Afghanistan were so severe that soldiers in loving relationships would return home and have triggered reactions so severe that their spouses feared for their lives at times. It's a slow and painfully arduous recovery for them. So...I guess relationships are still a "healing balm"; some just need a lot more balm than others.
ReplyDeleteLike a famous Beatle once said, "All you need is love." ;) J/k. Interesting concept though...
ReplyDeleteI see Cheryl's points about exceptions, but I definitely agree with the principle as it applies to the challenges we go through in our normal lives. When the connections diminish, the healing that comes from those connections also diminishes. Love you
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