The Co-Morbidity of the Mind
There was a time, in the not-so-distant past, when only healthcare workers knew what a comorbidity was. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed that. Today, the term is common within most households, being clearly understood with regard to its threatening ramifications. Just in case you happen to have only a foggy idea of what this word means, by definition, comorbidity is the presence of two or more chronic diseases or conditions existing at the same time within the body of an individual.
Often times, the attempt to heal a patient from the presenting (or most critical) condition is hampered by the presence of the other—such as how having diabetes can hinder healing after surgery.
While few of you reading this will likely come down with the coronavirus, CV-19, all of us—to some degree or another—are fighting against the comorbidity of our minds, given these uncertain times. With all we’ve seen, read, and heard about in regard to this global pandemic, the national unrest related to social injustice, and the decline of our country’s or our personal economic status, it’s no wonder so many people I love are struggling with sadness, depression, fear, worry, anxiety, and even apathy. And here’s the kicker: Having one of these emotional “co-existing conditions” makes it difficult to handle all the other stressors we’re faced with.
People have been falsely conditioned to think of their minds as totally separate entities from their bodies. Yet the brain is an organ just as the stomach is. If your stomach is giving you trouble, you head to a gastroenterologist without a sheepish thought. Yet, when our brains begin to “malfunction” and our thoughts become distressing or destructive, we resist getting care for this organ.
Today I hope to release those of you who believe that the health of your mind isn’t a “health” issue at all. Its run-amok nature must be a character flaw, a faith-weakness, or a shame-bearing deficiency. This simply is NOT TRUE!
There should NEVER be shame or guilt involved in seeking care for a troubled mind. Most times—due to the sheer weight of all you’re experiencing—it just needs some good ol’ fashioned talk-therapy to unload and reset. Occasionally it’s due to a chemical imbalance which requires a bit of medication. Either way, an unhealthy brain should be promptly cared for—cuz who needs a co-morbidity in these times?