Here we are, living in America and most of us are broke! Our stressors as a community are vast. We got hit with unbelievable fuel prices last winter, spring and summer. At the same time, every business that could, hopped on that expensive band wagon and raised prices on our basic necessities like FOOD! Anything that was associated with fuel the price was raised. I continue to be amazed that one tomato cost $1.00 in the middle of summer when tomatoes were in season and plentiful! Wow! The list goes on and on. We were hit and hit hard when the gas prices rose. Everyone I know needed to rearrange their finances, tighten their belts, and work harder for less.
Another stressor we share as a community is that our son’s and daughter’s are fighting in 2 wars. We may disagree as to why we are fighting, but no amount of arguing will change the fact that our precious young people are fighting in 2 wars. To me the numbers are staggering. The number of American’s who have given their life to protect our country is 4,209. The number of injured American’s is 30,652. The injured are coming home with traumatic brain injuries (TBI), amputations, PTSD, depression, increased aggression, and prone to commit a violent act. And how do we treat our soldiers when they return? Two words will explain their care: Walter Reed.
We continue to be a divided country. The people who hate are spewing their venom even more. Some people are hopeful that our country will soon change to be a better place to live. At this point no body knows what will happen. So we all swing in limbo together. My hope is that we can meet in the middle sometime in the near future.
More common problems we share as a community: the loss of jobs and the loss of housing. These two problems are basic needs. We need money to pay for our food and shelter. Basic, basic, basic!!! We as a community need to help those who have lost their job by no fault of their own and open our wallets to help feed these families. We need to look at our neighbor’s situation and help them! Many of the homeless and hungry families have served in the war for our protection. Just do it even if it hurts a little. We all can buy a few extra cans of food to give to the food pantries so that our American neighbor can eat!
Now, we are in the middle of the American holiday season. This season brings on its’ own stressors, that, coupled with the stressors I have just talked about, takes us to a place that is dark and gloomy.
Suicide rates increase in America during the months of November and December. Suicide rates are at an all time high already this year. As a human being and a psych nurse this breaks my heart. The various situations people find themselves in WILL CHANGE! You just have to stick around to experience the change. I want to yell from the roof tops: Let nature take you out! No one knows what the future holds. I have said this time and time again; life can change on a dime, but you have to be here to experience the change!!!
Here are a few suggestions to make these hard times a little bit better:
Ask for help! If you do not know where to get the specific help you need call the 211 system. The people on the phones can lead you to your destination.
Get rid of expectations of others with the exception of academics. If you do not expect someone to behave in a certain way, you will not be disappointed or let down.
For the non-secular holidays, gifts are typically exchanged. This year, concentrate on the children. They continue to have magical thinking about the season, so let them. We may know this country has gone down a big fat toilet, but the children don’t, so let them have a special time. This is a good time to explain to the older children about money and how basic needs need to be fulfilled before anything else is attended to.
If depression creeps into your life seek medical help!
Always remember people are more important than things. Get out there and help someone less fortunate than you are currently. This will fill your heart with a certain type of joy which is difficult to describe. Try it!
Go back to the basics. If you do not have enough food to eat, then that 52 inch HD-TV can wait! Make sure you are moving your body everyday if possible, sleep at least 6 to 8 hours a day, and eat nutritious foods and fluids. Make contact with others everyday. Go slow and do what you are able to do. Reduce the expectations you place on yourself too.
If you are so depressed that you are thinking of suicide, reconsider and get help! STAT! Suicide hotline number is: SUICIDE HOTLINE: 1-800-273-8255 TTY SUICIDE HOTLINE: 1800-799-4889 We as a country have to live as a community now. We need to look after the less fortunate; if we don’t, then who have we become as a nation? The focus is not just about “me” anymore; the focus is to help your fellow human in any way you can OR to accept help graciously.
Break traditions this year. If you usually prepare a feast for a holiday, change that feast to a normal sized meal and donate the unused money to the food pantries.
Try to think in positive terms as opposed to negative. Be grateful for the blessings you already have in your life. Keep gratitude close to your heart. Be grateful for the smile a stranger gives to you on the street and so on.
Remember the saying “Brother can you spare a dime?” Most Americans are not that far away from that statement and situation it implies.
Try to stay positive, be grateful, and show some compassion to your fellow human this year.
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