compassion

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Describing Myself: The Power of Compassion

One Word That Describes Me: Compassionate

If I had to choose one word that truly defines me, it would be compassionate. I feel deeply for those I love, and I genuinely care about how others are feeling. I sometimes joke that I can’t stand people. However, the truth is I want everyone to be okay. I want them to thrive in their lives. My heart is constantly open to the emotions of others. I take on their joys and their struggles as if they were my own.

One of the things I am most passionate about is animal welfare. I have an enormous soft spot for animals, and nothing breaks my heart more than seeing them suffer. I honestly can’t watch movies or TV shows where an animal is harmed—even if I know it’s not real. It’s too much for me to stomach, and I firmly believe there should be warnings for such scenes. It would save me a lot of unnecessary tears.

Another area that is incredibly important to me is mental health advocacy. Breaking the stigma surrounding mental health care is something I care deeply about. My own journey with mental health has been a long one, filled with denial, confusion, and ultimately, clarity. At first, I struggled to accept my diagnosis, but over time, I found relief and understanding. Now, I want to help others see that they are not alone. Seeking help is not a sign of weakness but of strength.

I feel everything so deeply, and my empathy often makes me feel like an emotional sponge. If I see someone hurting, I hurt. If I see someone happy, I feel joy with them. While this sensitivity can sometimes be overwhelming, I know that my compassion is one of my greatest strengths. It drives me to be there for others. It encourages me to advocate for change. I strive to create a world where kindness and understanding are at the forefront.

Being compassionate isn’t always easy, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s who I am, and it’s what makes me, me.

What's one word that describes you?

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

Leo Buscaglia

#MentalHealth #compassion #self #Selflove

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sacredsavage

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@iameveryoneverywhere

Love 2mo

CELEBRATING ONE OF OUR GREATEST HEROES ON HIS MEMORIAL DAY: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. King, John Lewis, and many others of that generation became true Heroes/Heroines in every sense of the word, and had a deeply profound affect upon many hearts and lives, mine, life-changing. He remains the youngest in History to have been honored with receiving the esteemed Nobel Peace Prize Award. He, John Lewis and several others in that generation demonstrated genuine heroism and humanity in the face of appalling corruption and struggling to redefine our values and characters, both personally, socially, and as a Nation.

I’m sharing a portion of one of his most treasured Speeches, his last, just prior to his assassination…

“And then I got into Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers?

Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind.

Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!

And so I’m happy, tonight.

I’m not worried about anything.

I’m not fearing any man.

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”

#Love . #compassion . #Forgiveness . #courage . #Dignity /Self-Worth

RIP MLK Jr. May the Spirit of your Dreams burn increasingly brighter over Time, the visions of your heart be realized sooner than later, and the fruits of your life’s labors weigh low and plentiful to the ground! ♥️🫂

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Sharyn

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@little_miss_sharyn

MentalHealth 6mo

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On the topic of Addiction

"General population surveys have documented that approximately 75% of individuals with a substance use disorder have experienced trauma at some point in their lives."
-- PubMed Central, National Library of Medicine.

Time and time again, I see comments from people online saying things like:

* People with addictions have no-one to blame but themselves.
* Addiction is a lifestyle choice.
* Addiction only happens to certain kinds of people.
* People with addiction are all criminals.
* People with addiction need tough love. Helping them just enables drug use.
* Addiction medications are just replacing one addiction with another.
* People with addiction are hopeless.
... and on and on it goes.

Statistics show that the vast majority of people with addictions are doing it to self-medicate. Some things, such as some types of illicit drugs, have the additional side effect of feeling good while they're being taken, but my argument is that people don't take them primarily for that reason.

They take them to dull/block out emotional and/or physical pain.

[Aside: I, until 2.5 months ago, used to do the same thing with nicotine, be it smoking and/or vaping. Every time I felt stressed or anxious, I craved nicotine. My body screamed for it. And I would find myself huddled somewhere away from everyone else, puffing away, because smokers are considered pariahs these days.]

Not every form of emotional pain is linked to trauma, but every traumatic backstory leads to emotional pain. It's perfectly understandable to want to kill that pain with whatever you can get your hands on, whatever works. Let's face it; Mindfulness really doesn't help with genuine distress, it helps with mild symptoms.

Tearing into people with addictions helps no-one - *especially* not the person with the addiction. It makes them feel worse than they already do. Don't people realise that the person with the addiction already *knows* they're addicted, and likely wish they weren't?

With seeking help for addictions comes the realisation and reality that once you kick the habit, the feelings you were trying to kill will come flooding back. Often it feels like they come back with a vengeance, to make up lost time, as it were. Quitting an addiction is downright heroic, because you have to face all your inner demons.

That's why addiction centres usually have 28-day programs, full of group and 1:1 therapy sessions. It takes approximately a week for the drugs to leave a person's system (the detox process is usually brutal in and of itself), then they need time and help afterwards. They also need to be among people going through a similar process, for inspiration and support.

[Aside: For anyone interested in the topic of addiction centres, I recommend the movie '28 Days' (not to be mistaken for '28 Days Later', a *very* different genre of movie.) It's a comedy, but does go quite deep into the more serious aspects of addiction. You can rent it through the Google TV or YouTube apps; it used to be available upon Netflix, but they've since removed it.]

Have you noticed the language I have been very careful in using for identification, yet? At no point have I used the word 'addicts'; I have always used the term 'people with addictions'. That is deliberate, as people are not natural addicts. They have addictions. I'm not sure if I believe in the so-called 'addictive gene' theory. I suspect I lean more into the no camp, as I believe the main cause of addiction is trauma, not genetics. That doesn't mean, however, that the two can't be at play, simultaneously. I am open to being wrong.

So the next time you see a person with an addiction, be it out on the street, in a psych ward, or even just looking into your bathroom mirror, think about what might have brought them to that point in their lives, and seek for some compassion and sympathy within yourself. If you're walking, or have walked the addiction path before, you can also try some empathy. It costs nothing, but means everything.

No-one chooses for their life to feel out of their control. They don't choose the tragedies in their past. They don't choose addiction.

#MentalHealth #Addiction #SubstanceRelatedDisorders #SubstanceUseDisorders #PTSD #Trauma #compassion #Sympathy #Empathy #AddictionRecovery #Recovery

(edited)

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Randy

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@ravishing123

compassion 7mo

Thank you

It’s been a while since I posted here. Last time I posted I was in a dark place mentally. I was just leaving a job I hated and starting a new job. The new job has been wonderful and it’s not so new anymore. I am a seasoned employee. I felt so alone, hopeless, and purposeless a few years ago. Looking back on my old posts and the kind comments brought me so much joy. I guess subconsciously I did take a lot of the advice given and of course I received professional help as well. But to know there are kind people commenting with such compassion warms my heart. Although I am living a meaningful life now. I have hills and valleys ( life is just that way). I will always appreciate the kindness this platform offered me a few years ago. #compassion #MentalHealth

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kim1astall

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@sweetpea15

cofidentdoglove 9mo

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I’m confident that when I take my Therapy Pet out on a visit, people will smile and feel joy, even if just for a moment! He helped a little girl this morning who was having a procedure involving needles, tubing and some pushing by distracting her with his gorgeous wee face and calm attitude. My heart swelled as the adults relaxed and the little girl laughed (after a screaming session instigated by the nurse pushing the tubing!) and Jasper licked her face ‘well done!’ # #cofidentdoglove #TherapyPet #compassion #Empathy

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Expired OJ #compassion

TW suicide

One morning when I was planning to kill myself, I stopped at a gas station to get something to stay hydrated. OJ looked good. When I got to the checkout, the cashier said, "Oh look, this is expired. You can go back and get a different one."

You never know what people are going through. I still think about that person with a modest job who was looking out for my well being.