Healing Invisible Wounds

Imagine this scenario: you're speeding down the highway at 100 miles per hour when suddenly, a crash occurs. The ambulance arrives, but instead of whisking you off to receive urgent medical care, they simply tell you to keep walking and call them during office hours if you need help. But then you crash again, and again and the same thing happens. It's a bizarre concept, right? Yet, this is often how we treat mental health issues.

When it comes to physical injuries, we are quick to seek treatment and support to aid in the healing process. However, when it comes to mental health, there seems to be a stigma or reluctance to address the damage that can occur. I can't help but sometimes wonder that this is an evil scheme; that if we leave someone long enough with their trauma, the worse it will get and the more this helps services to run as I once worked with a child who was ''worth'' £18,000 a week and I'm sure social care could be paying a lot less if they'd just used that money for private therapy, rather than further criminalising them.

Trauma can physically alter the structure of the brain, impacting memory and emotions. The brain, the most intricate organ in our bodies, can suffer genuine harm that requires attention and care - so what good is an 18 month waiting list?

Why is it that we are expected to mend our own minds without the same level of intervention and support that we readily provide for physical ailments? It's a thought-provoking question that highlights the importance of prioritizing mental health care and breaking down the barriers that prevent individuals from seeking the help they need. We need to remember to treat our minds with the same urgency and compassion as we would our bodies in times of distress.

When trauma is left unaddressed and untreated, it doesn't just vanish into thin air, it doesn’t disappear when a medical professional advices you to ‘’take a walk’’ and ‘’have a bath’’. Instead, it finds a way to manifest itself in various aspects of our lives. The emotions, memories, and pain associated with the trauma don't simply disappear when we are told to brush it off or distract ourselves. They linger beneath the surface, waiting for an opportunity to resurface and wreak havoc on our mental well-being.

This build up of unresolved trauma can lead to a host of detrimental outcomes. Individuals may experience intense panic attacks triggered by seemingly innocuous events, turn to harmful addictions as a coping mechanism, or even exhibit violent behaviour towards themselves or others. These reactions are often the mind's way of expressing the pain and distress that has been left unattended, manifesting in ways that can be destructive to both the individual and those around them. Simply ignoring or dismissing them can have serious consequences.

It is widely acknowledged in the field of psychology that individuals with an Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) score of 4 or more are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing long-term negative impacts on their physical and mental health. Some of the common long-term effects that people with high ACE scores may face include increased risk of developing mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety, higher likelihood of engaging in risky behaviours like substance abuse, and challenges in forming and maintaining healthy relationships. Other potential consequences may include difficulty in managing stress, lower self-esteem and self-worth, and a higher likelihood of experiencing chronic health conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

Adverse Childhood Experiences encompass a range of traumatic events that can have a lasting impact on an individual's well-being. These experiences can include various forms of abuse such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, household dysfunction such as substance abuse or mental illness in the family, witnessing domestic violence, or having a parent who is incarcerated. Each of these experiences can contribute to a person's ACE score and increase the likelihood of facing challenges in adulthood. It is essential for individuals with high ACE scores to seek appropriate support and therapy to address and cope with the effects of these traumas in order to improve their overall quality of life and well-being.

Performing surgery on a long-standing physical injury can present significant challenges, especially when it has been neglected for years. Similarly, when dealing with individuals who are perceived as "too difficult" to engage with, it often stems from the delay in addressing their needs promptly.

It is common for society to unfairly judge individuals based on their struggles rather than offering them the support they require.

This tendency is perplexing, as one wouldn't tell a person with a physical disability to simply overcome their limitations by walking. Instead of providing assistance, there is a tendency to stigmatize individuals impacted by trauma, criticize those struggling with addiction saying things like ''I'm just glad I didn't go down that route'', disregard those who are resistant to help by saying they're just ''too challenging'', and in extreme cases, confine them involuntarily, leading to isolation and tragic outcomes like suicide, all while deeming them as beyond help.

Society's tendency to judge individuals based on their struggles rather than offering support can exacerbate their situations. Instead of stigmatizing or isolating those impacted by trauma or addiction, a more compassionate approach is needed to provide the necessary assistance and prevent tragic outcomes like suicide. So, my questions are..

1. How can we re-evaluate the financial incentives in social care to prioritize early intervention and support for individuals, rather than prolonging their need for services? Would investing in private therapy from the beginning be more effective and beneficial than prolonged social care support?
2. What steps can be taken to reduce waiting times for individuals in severe need of help, such as mental health support, to prevent reaching a crisis point like suicide? How can we emphasize humanistic qualities like empathy, compassion, and understanding in providing timely assistance?
3. When will the media cease perpetuating harmful stereotypes and stigmas surrounding individuals with addictions, as seen in programs like "Benefits Britain" and others? How can we promote more accurate and compassionate portrayals of individuals struggling with addiction to reduce societal judgment and discrimination?
4. How can we improve access to mental health services and resources for individuals who are resistant to help or deemed "difficult to engage with," to prevent further marginalization and isolation? What strategies can be implemented to address the root causes of resistance and provide tailored support to these individuals effectively?

I perceive mental health services as primitive, the media as primitive, and our allocation of funds towards these services as primitive. Why aren't we taking more decisive action? And by "we," I'm not referring to those of us who have experienced mental health challenges and continue to endure them; because we can talk endlessly about this without significant change. I'm talking about the individuals with the influence to make a difference. While it's commendable that small organizations are doing their utmost to assist people, true progress will only be made when the people who have the power to change this wholeheartedly prioritize saving lives.

To address these challenges, it is crucial to re-evaluate the current approach to mental health care and prioritize early intervention and support. Investing in private therapy from the beginning may prove more effective than prolonged social care support, especially for individuals with high Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) scores. Steps should be taken to reduce waiting times for mental health support, emphasize humanistic qualities like empathy and understanding, and combat harmful stereotypes perpetuated by the media surrounding addiction.

Improving access to mental health services for individuals resistant to help and implementing tailored support strategies can prevent further marginalization and isolation. It is essential for those in positions of influence to prioritize saving lives by advocating for comprehensive mental health care reform. By working together to promote understanding, compassion, and timely intervention, we can create a more supportive and inclusive environment for individuals facing mental health challenges, ultimately preventing further loss of lives among our friends and family.

And after all, - it comes down to being human, it comes down to these people not being treated like an income stream, it comes down to being kind and going out of our way to ensure that people can talk, for free. Sparing 15 minutes of your time, qualified therapist or not can save peoples lives. Communication is key.