It's interesting - I make a point of choosing not to watch the news. Not because I have no interest in what is going on in the world around me, quite the contrary - I have so much interest in the world around me and the people who inhabit this world - however, I choose not to get caught up in the negative energy that comes at us from every medium.
However, I did turn on the television today in the middle of a piece of news, that did catch my attention. And when it does that, it obviously has a message or is important for me to notice. It was again about the percentage increase of people who are being diagnosed as suffering with depression. This they site as largely due to financial worries and stress caused by being out of work for long periods of time.
The answer for many is to go their GP and ask for prescription medicine to help them through these challening times.
I do not question that life is tough for many of us but it did make me challenge our reactions and the choices that seem to be available to us in order to support and help us.
If I do not believe that prescription medicine is the way forwards then what do I wish that GP's were able offer us. My initial reaction was that a lot of the time what people really need is someone to talk to, someone to whom they can unload their fears and worries without being judged. I fully appreciate that this is not a role that most GP's are able to offer for they simply do not have the time or the resources. If money is the issue that is causing a person the most distress, then they are not likely to wish to pay to see a Psychiatrist or Coach. Which led me to ask the question that if depression and stress are on the rise then what did we do before GP's and prescription medicine.
And my answer as it often does leads me back to community. We used to live in communities where we knew there was always someone we could turn to in our hour of need. People naturally lived together and thought nothing of loving, supporting, nourishing and caring for each other. It was never questioned, it was simply a way of life. There would always be someone that you could go and talk to to seek advice or simply to offload your fears and concerns to. There was always someone ready to feed you or to hug you or to watch out for you.
In our bid for independence and subsequent stoic behaviour, we have become so isolated that in times of trouble and need, we feel only desperation, isolation and separateness. So we seek out professionals rather than friends and families. We have come to believe that only people who are in a position of authority or greater knowledge can tell us what to do or to help us. Whatever happened to listening to our own intuition and of seeking solace in family, friends and our community.
These sorts of communities do exist in our world and I admire so much the love and support that they share with each other on a daily basis, no matter what.
My question to you with this blog is to challenge the need to do things alone. Do you need to be afraid alone? Do you need to suffer alone? Do you need to worry alone?
How can you bring yourself closer to being in a community..... who do you know that would love and support you, no matter what. What would it take for you to express your need to talk, to share. There is a great gift in asking for help. Someone will always want to listen and to help, that is part of the gift of human nature. We just have to find those people.
So, go out and find your community - you might just find them in the most surprising of places.
With love and blessings, always
Nikola x
