The mental health professional!!!

This was a common theme embedded in my email responses. First things first: I sense (I could be wrong) that email was used to send comments because each person felt anxiety and possibly embarrassment involved with having what someone calls “mental condition” (NOTE: USE WHAT EVER MEANS YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE ME, AS LONG AS YOU ACT ON YOUR PAIN). The mainstream culture runs on a total ‘donkey dung’ premise that every person should have this ‘perfect’ mental capability to deal with every situation life has to offer. Let me tell you something, every personality you see in Hollywood has a serious monkey on their back somewhere. The difference in you versus them? They have the resources to have media coverage censured and kept in the black, where as you have to wear your daily battle on your sleeve. This very notion presents a great deal of stress and frustration to the individual fighting the war to get out of bed and be productive each day.

Ultimately, this brings one of two major responses: ISOLATION and/or ANGER. Zach from ‘Rage Against The Machine’ was correct about “anger is a gift”, but unfortunately the band did not clue fans in to the fact that once you have the gift, one must use the gift appropriately and understand the downsides to expressing the raw element of the emotion. Isolation is never a good thing! The cool thing is that the Internet provides you comfort to work out of the isolationist corner and begin to creep into emotional health without the fear of “jumping in full steam ahead” (example – mental health pro suggests a public speaking gig to break you of your fear of people).

Anger is your enemy, and if mental health professionals made things simplistic, they would have no long term patients to treat (please know I understand serious conditions require significant help, but that is not the majority of the practices that pay for all these damn BMWs and Rolex watches!). If a therapist makes comments that piss you off, make sure to breath and just listen. The more you react to the common trap of “JUST LISTEN TO ME! YOU DO NOT KNOW ME! STOP JUDGING ME!, the more inclined they are to say, ‘you still need to come see me’. This is particularly difficult for teenagers and those with constant exposure to parental guidance/mandates. The parents want what is best for the child (adult or youth) and wish to bring ‘enlightenment’, but they may not have enough respect for the fact that they and their generation will not be the same as their child’s way or life, belief system, dress, attitude, etc..

One thing I know that begins to help the relationship is if YOU take on the responsibility to begin changing the pattern of communication. IS THIS FAIR? HELL NO, but that is what discovering yourself is about. Try to noodle on the idea of allowing all comments to come in, but do not react to them (just like email, let it all come in; delete what does not apply; reflect on what does apply; and incorporate the meaningful into your life ACTION). WARNING!!! this is easier said than done and you can not get frustrated, because nothing will change fast, but over as little as three weeks, the people in your life will see a difference and the ‘territory of conflict’ in your life will alter, and hopefully you will feel more empowered to evaluate your life through examination of all opinions floating out there.

Just the START, got to run,

Respect to you and yours,

Nelson Renegade