At 21 years-of-age I "went as a pilgrim" on a 3 month back-packing trip throughout India (December 1970 - February 1971), traveling by rail (third class) and sleeping in baggage racks. There was much poverty and suffering. However, there was also a strong sense of community and acceptance that "this is the life I've been dealt" and I will struggle however I must to survive, and find joy in whatever pleasures I can. Most people seemed genuinely happy, friendly and welcoming. The core of their happiness seemed, to me, to be rooted in family and community, and that they were all in the same circumstance. In poverty they still had meaning and purpose.
Your sombre article looks through some windows at lives that, while lived in-extremis, provided authentic meaning and purpose. And through other lenses at human behaviour in circumstances many of us might not volunteer for. Or at life through the lenses of those ill-fated and cruel'ed by crime and trauma. Tragedy is often all around us, even if we don't see it. But so are nature and beauty and kindness and community, if we're able to embrace it. Unfortunately, modern western life seems more focussed on division and conflict. A sad and dangerous state of affairs.
Thanks for your considered articles Brad, always a pleasure to read.
In the beginning, it seemed like the COVID pandemic would be the disaster that could remind us all of our common humanity. “We’re all in this together” we were told. Until it turned out that some of us were not only above the fray, but actually benefitted from it. And used that position to grab power and control over the rest of us.
It seems even disasters and tragedies cannot bring us together, unless we share common values to start with. When some have the goal of domination over the entire group, the old saying “don’t let a good crisis go to waste” comes to the fore. That’s what we saw with COVID. The crisis passed, and we are more fractured than ever.
Maybe the next crisis can cause a true examination of the consequences of really bad ideas.
I didn't have time to read the entire article at this time, but I'll comment on rape victims you initially referenced and how the initial trauma, and symptoms of PTSD will decrease over time. Of course one would expect that following any traumatic event the symptoms are more severe, and time especially accompanied by support and psychological treatment would decrease the severity of the trauma. Also the outcome is dependent on the person's psychological health at the time the trauma occurred, as well as her overall support system, including therapeutic support. As you say, "PTSD can be a fickle affliction. At least, that’s what medical experts say," and indeed it is. I have a degree in clinical counseling and have worked with women who were raped, but also with people who were sexually abused as children where nothing was out in the open or treated, but the trauma may never be identified or dealt with until the person becomes an adult and develops all manner of psychological symptoms, such as panic attacks, and, or depression. This is not a simple issue, but one that is very complex.
Maybe that's why they call continual abuse over time, Complex PTSD. Also, why it's ignored and often misinterpreted as BPD, which actually leads to additional abuse at the hands of ignorant "professionals."
Well, BPD formerly called manic depression, goes from states of euphoria to depression and fairly well treated with medication and therapy, but it is a lifelong condition and like any disease physical or mental there is a lot of variation, in terms of depression and manic phases. However anyone that confuses it with PTSD is probably not well trained. True PTSD is marked by depression and anxiety, but not mania, which is different.
Not Bi-polar. Borderline Personality Disorder. Supposedly, "they" regularly misdiagnose, therefore the people with cPTSD don't get the help they need. Of course, as far as I can tell, there are VERY FEW that have a clue about treating someone with cPTSD, so they don't get the help they need anyway.
It took me a while to read this post; so much depth and wisdom that I didn’t want to skim over quickly. Very thought provoking 🤔, as I read, it elicited thoughts of when I myself felt most alive and connected to something meaningful, times when I felt a sense of purpose. Indeed these times were always challenging times. Maybe it’s not so strange that at times I wistfully imagine an infrastructure collapse that forces us to get back to simpler times where we rely on each other for survival.
Thanks for yet another amazing and insightful post!
I supported mandatory military service, because, if for no other reason, than it might make the precious spoiled brats grow up, in addition to being around others not as entitled. This would also apply to people who feel entitled due to their sex, skin color, or country of origin.
However, I'm not sure I still do support it, because of the new woke service. I don't think their wokness helps people grow, but instead supports their entitlements.
At 21 years-of-age I "went as a pilgrim" on a 3 month back-packing trip throughout India (December 1970 - February 1971), traveling by rail (third class) and sleeping in baggage racks. There was much poverty and suffering. However, there was also a strong sense of community and acceptance that "this is the life I've been dealt" and I will struggle however I must to survive, and find joy in whatever pleasures I can. Most people seemed genuinely happy, friendly and welcoming. The core of their happiness seemed, to me, to be rooted in family and community, and that they were all in the same circumstance. In poverty they still had meaning and purpose.
Your sombre article looks through some windows at lives that, while lived in-extremis, provided authentic meaning and purpose. And through other lenses at human behaviour in circumstances many of us might not volunteer for. Or at life through the lenses of those ill-fated and cruel'ed by crime and trauma. Tragedy is often all around us, even if we don't see it. But so are nature and beauty and kindness and community, if we're able to embrace it. Unfortunately, modern western life seems more focussed on division and conflict. A sad and dangerous state of affairs.
Thanks for your considered articles Brad, always a pleasure to read.
Well done and interesting article.
In the beginning, it seemed like the COVID pandemic would be the disaster that could remind us all of our common humanity. “We’re all in this together” we were told. Until it turned out that some of us were not only above the fray, but actually benefitted from it. And used that position to grab power and control over the rest of us.
It seems even disasters and tragedies cannot bring us together, unless we share common values to start with. When some have the goal of domination over the entire group, the old saying “don’t let a good crisis go to waste” comes to the fore. That’s what we saw with COVID. The crisis passed, and we are more fractured than ever.
Maybe the next crisis can cause a true examination of the consequences of really bad ideas.
Or maybe the next crisis they have planned for us will be the one they are looking for. The one to kill us off.
I didn't have time to read the entire article at this time, but I'll comment on rape victims you initially referenced and how the initial trauma, and symptoms of PTSD will decrease over time. Of course one would expect that following any traumatic event the symptoms are more severe, and time especially accompanied by support and psychological treatment would decrease the severity of the trauma. Also the outcome is dependent on the person's psychological health at the time the trauma occurred, as well as her overall support system, including therapeutic support. As you say, "PTSD can be a fickle affliction. At least, that’s what medical experts say," and indeed it is. I have a degree in clinical counseling and have worked with women who were raped, but also with people who were sexually abused as children where nothing was out in the open or treated, but the trauma may never be identified or dealt with until the person becomes an adult and develops all manner of psychological symptoms, such as panic attacks, and, or depression. This is not a simple issue, but one that is very complex.
Maybe that's why they call continual abuse over time, Complex PTSD. Also, why it's ignored and often misinterpreted as BPD, which actually leads to additional abuse at the hands of ignorant "professionals."
Well, BPD formerly called manic depression, goes from states of euphoria to depression and fairly well treated with medication and therapy, but it is a lifelong condition and like any disease physical or mental there is a lot of variation, in terms of depression and manic phases. However anyone that confuses it with PTSD is probably not well trained. True PTSD is marked by depression and anxiety, but not mania, which is different.
Not Bi-polar. Borderline Personality Disorder. Supposedly, "they" regularly misdiagnose, therefore the people with cPTSD don't get the help they need. Of course, as far as I can tell, there are VERY FEW that have a clue about treating someone with cPTSD, so they don't get the help they need anyway.
It took me a while to read this post; so much depth and wisdom that I didn’t want to skim over quickly. Very thought provoking 🤔, as I read, it elicited thoughts of when I myself felt most alive and connected to something meaningful, times when I felt a sense of purpose. Indeed these times were always challenging times. Maybe it’s not so strange that at times I wistfully imagine an infrastructure collapse that forces us to get back to simpler times where we rely on each other for survival.
Thanks for yet another amazing and insightful post!
I supported mandatory military service, because, if for no other reason, than it might make the precious spoiled brats grow up, in addition to being around others not as entitled. This would also apply to people who feel entitled due to their sex, skin color, or country of origin.
However, I'm not sure I still do support it, because of the new woke service. I don't think their wokness helps people grow, but instead supports their entitlements.
I don't use the word "unprovoked" anywhere in this post. I've also written extensively about how Russia was in fact provoked.
https://euphoricrecall.substack.com/p/the-russia-ukraine-war-was-not-inevitable