Wars have been fought for many reasons over the years. Sometimes it is over resources, mistakes, or misguided communication. Other times it can be to assist those who are discriminated or even
being slain due to their religion, ethnicity, or the color of their skin. There are various levels of crises in society today. The socio-economic status, gender, or religion of an individual has a crisis that does not discriminate – Addiction.
There are stigmas about mental health, alcoholism, and drug addiction. These three areas have a rampant correlation to homelessness. There are reports with estimates at roughly 772,000 homeless people in the United States. Rounding up and to make the numbers simple, let us say there are 1,000,000 experiencing homelessness in the United States. There are about 340,100,000 people in the USA.
The struggles of the internal mind are vast. Everyone is a by-product of the experiences they perceive and interpret. It is not the world’s job to tip-toe around me, but I can be mindful of others in the fact that they might not have healthy coping strategies set in their foundation just yet.
There are rehabilitation centers in every State of the Union. Some of which have gravitated more towards mental health. Some are based on the 12-Steps outlined in the book of Alcoholics Anonymous and its sister Narcotics Anonymous. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Music Therapy, Holistic Therapy, Meditation, etc. all have weight in helping those struggling in our community.
Whether a person enters a rehabilitation center due to a nudge from a judge, a friend, a relative, a traumatic event, or their own public embarrassment they all have a right to attempt to be present there. The opportunity to hear a message they can relate to can grant hope to a hopeless state of mind. It can open their mind and they start listening to learn. The reasons to do the work necessary, and repurpose their strengths to address their weaknesses must outweigh the excuses they have for going back to old habits. Connection with others with the common goal of living a different life is crucial to their future. Our past is not an indictment on the version of ourselves we are today, but our appreciation, and gratitude for today are indicative of our potential for tomorrow.
Some people have a “high bottom,” and their pain threshold is lower than others. Sometimes an individual needs to do more “research and development” before they experience enough pain to be open to suggestion on how to go about living a different way. The embarrassment and shame an individual feels should not be piled on by those who do not understand and scoff at their issues. We are going through life together whether we like it or not. Kicking someone when they are down in the mud does not make me feel better about myself. It is also no one’s job to drag another person through the mud. Showing compassion does not cost me anything. A sentence can in fact save someone’s life – it did for me. If someone was diagnosed with ALS, can you imagine the outcry of others if you passed judgement on them publicly? You would be deemed a cold person, and it would not be from a bucket filled with ice.
I will oversimplify the process of rehabilitation centers now: Depending on medical issues and if there is a detoxification process from a substance, the initial entrance into a program starts with a residential level of care once the fog begins to clear. Depending on the person’s insurance, they can stay anywhere from 30-90 days in treatment. There are treatment centers that offer longer stays depending on if a person can find a way to fund this level of care. A proper transition into society can prove to be a challenge. Assuming a person hears the message that opens them up to listen and learn . . . Continuing proper self-care and maintaining balance of the mind, body, and spirit can be chaotic. Life is on life’s terms – acceptance of that fact can be difficult to digest.
Sober homes are working their way into society slowly, but surely. Each one has its own nuances, but they are all attempting to house individuals that have pushed a hard reset on their approach to life. Typically, they get a bedroom with a roommate, access to a kitchen, bathroom, and living room. A three-bedroom apartment can house 6 or so sober individuals. They have requirements involving their journey through recovery, and accountability from a house manager that reports to the owner on breathalyzer and urine analysis tests. Each person has a role in keeping the place clean, and they have weekly rent due dates. It helps them build connection, and teaches them how to live with responsibilities. For $1,000/month – on average – a person has a chance to help themselves.
There is no “one size fits all” solution to anything in life. Hope can be granted to a hopeless state of mind. Compassion, understanding, and willingness to try outweighs the opportunity cost of abandoning the ship. There are gaps in every solution. Integration and application of various perspectives are interrelated and interdependent on one another.
Bozo On The Bus #BOTB 