I recently left my job as a prison nurse, working with psychotic inmates. As interesting as my days were, I've been directed to seek other interests in my career. I do however, reflect on the experience I've gained working in a prison. Recently, I was thinking about a question I had asked the medical director on the psychiatric unit. "Are we just treating the symptoms of these people, or are we treating the cause?"
Americans are so guilty of the "I want it now", "quick fix" mentality, that we've succumbed to masking the overall symptoms of fear, stress, anxiety, sadness, and anger, that we forget or become numb to the underlying cause of these symptoms.
My husband tells me that I can be so discontent at times, and as that comment frustrates and enrages me, I have to wonder, am I just treating my own symptoms, without ever dealing with the cause? Then the "Ahaa" moment hit me. In all living situations we want to suppress the symptoms so that we don't have to deal with the underlying cause. We take a pill, take a drink, take in a hurtful statement, and act on hurtful emotions just so we won't have to face what festers deep with in us.
Fear, worry, regret, guilt; we all have it. Whether 5 years old or 50, the symptoms exist. All that is human converts and abides by "symptoms", while very few actually understand that there is a cause behind it.
My friends, this site is about intimacy. If you are married, single, have siblings, parents or have children, stop treating, or reacting to symptoms. Instead,.....treat the cause.
Start asking questions either of yourself or others:
Why would they do such a thing?
Wow, they sure are in a bad mood.
Why am I so emotional?
Why can't I just be happy?
You get the point.
Hopefully this topic will invoke a response to dig deeper into your "symptoms", and allow you to further investigate the underlying causes that may be preventing a more intimate life with others.
Have an intimate day!
Jennifer
Posts
Pickwick
6 years ago
It's that act of asking those deeper questions that frightens so many people. They're afraid of the answers. I try not to be afraid but even I give myself the willies sometimes when I ask those questions. I think it's about understanding who we really are and facing up to our real motivations. It can get ugly.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
Jai
You are right on. The cure for discontentment begins with reflection. Who takes the time, personally or professionaly, to be still and ponder the tough questions? Just the word "symptoms" makes me think of "average", "general", "normal". Without true reflection you end up with the generic solution, which is rarely the right solution.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, as always.
ReplyDeleteOne point that I want to make is that often symptoms serve a purpose, for instance a fever raises the body temp enough to kill certain pathogens. By reducing fever (treating the symptoms) we can actually end up prolonging an illness.
A good read on this is in "Why we get sick" - it covers both physical and mental illness. With your occupation, I think we should read it. (Actually I think everyone should read it)
Can’t I just go buy new clothes to hide the body that has gone crazy; cause that makes me happy for a minute?
ReplyDeleteI really don't want to do self-examination as experience has shown me that kind of hell is cold very cold.
But hey thanks for the option
Paige! You crack me up!!!! But remember what Jai has said about shopping!
ReplyDeleteThanks Larry.I haven't read "Why We Get Sick"(sound like a good future read) and I am a firm believer of not treating a fever, unless of course the individual is at risk for a seziure. Our bodies are an incredible machines, and I do agree with you, that "symptoms" do serve a purpose. It helps us realize that something isn't right, and one way or another, we need to act on it. It all depends on what the "symptom" is!
Thanks Warren,...I like your twist on it!
Yes Jai, it can get ugly when we dig deeper in and of ourselves and our motivations. Unfortunately, if we don't, the symptoms get even uglier....
Thanks for your comments everyone!
fantastic blog....out visiting this morn
ReplyDeletehave a wonderful weekend
mona & the girls