Compassionate Love: Displaying compassion for those who struggle with mental illness   (c) 2018  Nancy Virden, Always The Fight Ministries

Maybe you are normal!

Those happy people

Life is often hard. Reactions to stress or disappointment  may include tears, racing thoughts, and trouble concentrating. We do not feel like ourselves at those times and wish we could be normal like other folks.

They smile, laugh,  and accomplish plenty seemingly without excess strain.  Even when aware of the troubles others suffer, we still tend to assume they are handling life with strength and courage.  We however, are falling apart.

Consider two facts. please

1) Everyone presents strength. It is what we do.  Deflection (“I’m alright, you?”), dismissal (“no worries”), and bravado (“I’m pulling through”) are often viewed as acceptable forms of suffering.  An honest, “I’m falling apart” or “I need your support” may be met with skepticism and withdrawal.

In this social atmosphere, is it any wonder we wear masks? Brave people reveal the truth but pay a price, too. By many they are accepted and embraced.  Some will judge them with ignorance and stigma.

Much of what we assume about the happiness of others is subjective at best. Perhaps nearly each person is hiding difficulty as we tend to do.

2). Comparing our insides with the outsides of others accomplishes nothing healthy.  Any guess as to the wellbeing of another person is inadequate. We judge from bias based on our experiences and interpretation of what we observe.

Carol greets guests with a vibrant smile in her job as hotel manager.  Sims goes about his work with typical reliability.  Keisha continues to chauffeur her children to activities. Upon first glance would you suspect Carol doubts her worth, Sims feels he is waiting to die, or that  Keisha battles horrific flashbacks?

In our misery we may see what others present and think, “I wish I was happy like they are.”

True courage

Again I suggest, maybe your tearfulness, racing thoughts, and inability to concentrate are normal.  What would not be so common is courage to reach out for wise counsel.  Even one visit with a competent therapist may improve your point of view.  Further sessions can include skills for handling similar challenges in the future.

Are you normal?  Wisdom admits imperfection and the need for each other.  Go ahead, give professional counsel a try.  Support groups too are terrific for proving just how well we fit in with the rest of the human race.