Repeated traumas
I am not sure if anyone else has observed that many us humans:
In my roles as a licensed professional counselor, a masters level addiction counselor and all around human I am often saddened by the level of self-hate and self-punishment by us humans over behavior committed while one’s brain is not functioning well because of a drug to which one is addicted or some other mental illness. Although folks do not bring actual leather whips into my office they might as well given the level of pain inflicted on themselves. Of course there are also those who arrive in my office still using the standard defense mechanisms of arrogance and rationalization.
Sadly, my observations is that many of those whose damaged brains have healed seem the least likely to refrain from judging others whose damaged brains are making decisions which are unhealthy for themselves and others, Often it seems that they see only the symptoms and not the illness. I have long noted this phenomenon with those in recovery from active addiction to alcohol, other drugs, or other compulsive behavior; folks whose damaged/addicted brains often directed the person to engage in hurtful and destructive behavior. Yet it is not restricted to those individuals. It seems many with undeveloped or ill brains have a tendency to become self-righteous and judgmental looking only at symptoms and not the damaged or ill brain.
In health care professions in recent years we have become more respectful and understanding of the effects on the brain of repeated physical and psychological trauma. Repeated concussions, for example, may result in acute, negative effects on the brain and other parts of the body. Repeated physical and emotional abuse, multiple combat tours, lifetimes of oppression related to race, sexual identity, gender, religion or other social constructs will result in symptoms which are reactionary and even self-destructive. Most of us who are professional heath care providers or scientist are not surprised at the effect of repeated traumas. We know there are limits on the number of traumas which the human body, including the brain, can tolerate. Many of us use the ACE (Adverse childhood Events) questionnaire as a guide to determining the extent of potential damage a person has suffered.
Traumas come in various forms and severity. Being consistently treated as less them, knowing one cannot trust the police to treat one with respect, growing up with addiction, long term incarceration, being repeatedly watched in stores as protentional thieves, being guarded at work as if one is going to make grave errors or not perform will, expecting to be both a professional and a sexual object are just a few of the conditions which will result in acute stress, repeated stress. Acute and repeated stress will damage all part of the body eventually resulting in the inability of various parts of the body to function.
Bottom line is if we want to function as well as possible; if we want others to function as well as possible; if we want less anger, less destructive thoughts, we have to keep the number of traumas to a minimum.
Judging the behaviors of others who have been repeatedly and consistently traumatized is itself another trauma. What is it about the effects of mistreating others that we do not understand? What is it about we humans that makes us think that we should be forgiven our “debts” when we cannot or will not forgive the “debts” of others?
Spiritual teachers have long warned against judging and otherwise mistreating ourselves and others. It is time that we took seriously the long term symptoms of repeated traumas to the body and souls of ourselves and our neighbors. It is time that we ‘judge not less we be judged”. It is time we were accountable for inflicting traumas and work together to reduce them to ourselves and others.
Written June 17, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
I am not sure if anyone else has observed that many us humans:
- Think our mistakes/sins/ways of hurting others are worse than others making us less deserving of love and forgiveness.
- Reserve the right to judge the behavior of others and to tell them how they ought to behave.
- Mistake particular behavior for the person who is engaging in the behavior.
In my roles as a licensed professional counselor, a masters level addiction counselor and all around human I am often saddened by the level of self-hate and self-punishment by us humans over behavior committed while one’s brain is not functioning well because of a drug to which one is addicted or some other mental illness. Although folks do not bring actual leather whips into my office they might as well given the level of pain inflicted on themselves. Of course there are also those who arrive in my office still using the standard defense mechanisms of arrogance and rationalization.
Sadly, my observations is that many of those whose damaged brains have healed seem the least likely to refrain from judging others whose damaged brains are making decisions which are unhealthy for themselves and others, Often it seems that they see only the symptoms and not the illness. I have long noted this phenomenon with those in recovery from active addiction to alcohol, other drugs, or other compulsive behavior; folks whose damaged/addicted brains often directed the person to engage in hurtful and destructive behavior. Yet it is not restricted to those individuals. It seems many with undeveloped or ill brains have a tendency to become self-righteous and judgmental looking only at symptoms and not the damaged or ill brain.
In health care professions in recent years we have become more respectful and understanding of the effects on the brain of repeated physical and psychological trauma. Repeated concussions, for example, may result in acute, negative effects on the brain and other parts of the body. Repeated physical and emotional abuse, multiple combat tours, lifetimes of oppression related to race, sexual identity, gender, religion or other social constructs will result in symptoms which are reactionary and even self-destructive. Most of us who are professional heath care providers or scientist are not surprised at the effect of repeated traumas. We know there are limits on the number of traumas which the human body, including the brain, can tolerate. Many of us use the ACE (Adverse childhood Events) questionnaire as a guide to determining the extent of potential damage a person has suffered.
Traumas come in various forms and severity. Being consistently treated as less them, knowing one cannot trust the police to treat one with respect, growing up with addiction, long term incarceration, being repeatedly watched in stores as protentional thieves, being guarded at work as if one is going to make grave errors or not perform will, expecting to be both a professional and a sexual object are just a few of the conditions which will result in acute stress, repeated stress. Acute and repeated stress will damage all part of the body eventually resulting in the inability of various parts of the body to function.
Bottom line is if we want to function as well as possible; if we want others to function as well as possible; if we want less anger, less destructive thoughts, we have to keep the number of traumas to a minimum.
Judging the behaviors of others who have been repeatedly and consistently traumatized is itself another trauma. What is it about the effects of mistreating others that we do not understand? What is it about we humans that makes us think that we should be forgiven our “debts” when we cannot or will not forgive the “debts” of others?
Spiritual teachers have long warned against judging and otherwise mistreating ourselves and others. It is time that we took seriously the long term symptoms of repeated traumas to the body and souls of ourselves and our neighbors. It is time that we ‘judge not less we be judged”. It is time we were accountable for inflicting traumas and work together to reduce them to ourselves and others.
Written June 17, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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