The word Misery is thrown around so often these days, one can argue that it has lost all meaning. Misery is basically defined as a state or feeling of great physical or mental distress or discomfort. Which is worse though: being miserable because of physical pain or mental pain? Someone who suffers from physical pain can be treated. There are pain medications and other remedies that can be administered to alleviate the pain one experiences. Meanwhile, it is easy for others to see the pain people go through. The sounds of discomfort, bruises and scars make it even easier for people around to see and hence sympathise with them, and to offer help if they can.
Misery born out of physical pain can be treated quite easily; however, the same cannot be said about misery born out of mental pain. The brain is one of the most important, if not the most important, organ in the human body. Not only does it control our every movement, it also houses our thoughts and emotions. How then can something so vital to our survival also be something that can be detrimental to it? Our minds are extremely malleable. We are the ones that shape it and it in turns shapes our values, emotions, and personality, which explain who we are.
We can attribute the changes our minds go through to the experiences we get. The better the experiences we acquire in life, the better our minds become. The worse experiences we go through, the more broken our minds become, which further causes mental pain. This kind of pain cannot be described or expressed, neither can it be seen, and is the main reason why people who suffer from mental pain/illness do not always get the help they need.
In those rare moments, we hear people lament over their mental misery, they are usually shut up with harsh words like ‘Just get on with your life’, ‘everyone has bigger problems’ and other inhumane utterances. Statements like these can be extremely detrimental to a person who is already on the edge; who is not looking for someone to compare problems with, but may only be looking for someone to vent to. No need to have a problem Olympics. As members of society, we need to come together and help one another. We can no longer blame our ignorance for our inability to understand one’s mental pain.
A person engulfed by misery no longer sees the happiness and beauty in this world; neither do they see the wonders that you and I see. Instead, his or her mind focuses on the negativity and the bad in this world and in their life. Being in such a state for a long period can be fatal. Misery leads to depression which could, and often, leads to suicide.
To best explain it, misery can be likened to an ocean that you step foot into. First, you feel the coldness of the waves dulling the heat of your feet but still walk in, thinking you can handle it. Deeper and deeper you go, firmly believing that you can handle it on your own, till you eventually realise you may have gone too far. It becomes too late however to turn back, since the crashing waves overpower you. At this juncture, you start fighting against this overpowering strength, fighting just to keep your head above the cold, crushing water.
Read – What Shall it Profit a Man – An Article by Ojo-Ibukun Tim, Nigeria
People we lose to this battle against misery simply give up. They give in to it and let it take them to the depths of the ocean, which becomes the end of the battle for them. Some would say they are cowards but when you have been fighting a battle all your life and cannot see victory in sight, giving up becomes your only choice.
Different situations bring misery into our lives, and we all may have encountered someone who lost the battle to it. We need to try as much as possible to find ways to pull ourselves out of misery should we find our strength waning in our battle against it. The easiest way is to find someone you trust, or find a therapist to talk to. Otherwise, journaling is also a very good option. Grab a book and write down all your emotions. Let it all out; let your emotions run through the pen onto the page. Understand that the only way to get through this is to let it out. Let it all out and ease the burden that you have placed on your shoulders.
Whenever things become too hard for you, when you think you cannot carry on anymore, remember the many times that you fell and got back up on your feet. The many times that you overcame the trials and obstacles that stood in front of you. You had the strength to defeat them, and you still have that strength in you. If you defeated those, you can defeat this. Believe in yourself and never give up.
Found this article on twitter. I must say, it’s written very well and as a person suffering from the subject of the article, I can relate quite well. I’m just more happy at this moment because of how well the article was written.