SNAP!

I have been struggling with my conscience in regards to writing about this topic, but after some open and honest discussions with co-workers today, I have decided I will try to address this topic in the most careful and respectful way I can.

It is my perception that many people on the South Plains want to believe that we live in a world, here, that is not subject to all of pressures and influences of the modern world.  Well, of course, that is nonsense.  But people in West Texas are insular, or at least, think that we are insular, or that they want us to be insular.

But the South Plains is subject to all the influences, pressures and lifestyle problems that are found anywhere else in the world.  And, that being the case, the people of the South Plains are subject to the pressures and payload, emotional, psychological, financial, that people the world over find that they, too are subjected to.

Most recently, there have been two incidents that have brought this home to me.  A co-worker, known to me in passing, engaged in a most horrific and tragic episode that resulted in two deaths, and later, he himself, died in an automobile accident.  Why these events occurred, we may never know. It is not our right to explore and dissect the inner workings of the families involved, who have suffered horrifically, and who will continue to suffer, given the legacy of the actions of this person. 

These families deserve our circumspect respect. They do not need to suffer our prying eyes.  I am not trying to intrude. I want to use this as a learning experience for us all.

The repercussions of the acts of this person are multi fold: The pain and suffering from the losses that spreads across the immediate and extended families. The shame and guilt associated with the man's actions. The faith that at some moment before his death, he made his peace with God, and that we are better human beings because we understand that this instantaneous revelation can occur.  

His actions were so out of character and make so little sense, I have to believe he had some sort of psychotic break . Otherwise it makes no sense.  The question is, what are the pressures and stressors that mounted to the point that this psychotic break occurred. We cannot know the load that another human being carries, and what one more stressor can do to that person. 

Some of us are not schooled in the skill of decreasing stress, knowing our limits or even asking for help. Many of us could  not recognize, in ourselves, when we get to the breaking point, and that is frightening.

The second event is the suicide death of a young man who, many would have thought, had the life many others would want to live.  It is hard to know why this young man engaged in the irrevocable act of suicide.  What pressures and stressors we could not see from without that he was not handling appropriately from within.  What are the pressures and stressors that a young man might experience that would drive him to this ultimate act of desperation.

Because I am not in the inner circle, I will never know. I do not know if those in the inner circle will ever know. 

But I do know that we must treat all life with value, treasure, respect, dignity and immense caring. I believe if we give humans true understanding of their worth, as humans because they are human, and do not have to have value added to their lives, the quality of their lives will improve.

For the poor, the down-trodden, the victimized, the abused, the under-appreciated, and often, the disabled of mind and body, this notion of inner worth often is non-existent.  I spend a lot of time talking to patients about the fact that they have value simply because they are a living human being, and no one can take that away from them.  

I cannot know what bundle of stressors caused these two people to SNAP. I can only hope that in the course of my days as a social worker, I am able to reach out to people and maybe help someone who is close to snapping, but does not.

More importantly, as we go about our daily lives, I hope we develop a sense of caring and compassion that helps everyone in our world to stay away from that desperate edge. I hope we remember to be kind, considerate, respectful, caring and compassionate, so we send the message to all with whom we have contact, that they are a wonderful, special, unique and valuable human being.