Wednesday, March 17, 2010

A Gift That Costs You Nothing

When we are ill our most urgent need is release from pain.  Friends, nurses, and our mothers have always known this and are quick to respond.  In today's world we have all kinds of medications, treatments, and procedures meant to "heal".  A true "healer" recognizes that the most desperate need underlying the pain is the need for the comfort of love and compassion.

Part of what I've been trying to convey to others through this blog is the understanding that mental (or emotional) illness carries with it a depth of pain that is as severe as the torture of any physical ailment.

How can we compare our pain?  How can we express to another its depth and make them understand?  It's never easy.  Physical pain is mostly understood by all - emotional pain not so well.

Often we are at a loss to know what to do to help someone in emotional pain - especially one in the severe pain that is associated with any kind of "diagnosed" mental illness.  Today NAMI posted info on Facebook about their new Hearts and Minds campaign.   On that page I found a link to a new support site that anyone can use when they're feeling most in need.

You can create an area devoted to any subject; those already done include not only mental illness and addictions but things such as financial difficulties, weight loss, and cancer.  Looking through the posts I was moved by the levels of pain that so many are experiencing in this time.  But I was most struck by the consideration, love, compassion, and understanding of others who replied to help those feeling so lost and alone.

Check out http://www.supportgroups.com/ if you're needing a friend, or please if you have a moment to spare to help another who could use one.

2 comments:

Pam said...

Translation: Any your anxious matter, you should go to take an action, do not only be thought in that side ..................................................

Pam said...

Thank you for your comments. Sorry if you've posted in the past & I deleted.... I didn't know how to translate :)