Courage...

If it could only be as easy as a wish for courage like The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, we - like he - would all recognize our inner strength and latch onto it for dear life.

But it's not that simple, is it? For some of us, due to chronic illness, PTSD, depression, or other physical or mental ailments, finding the courage to go forward is a daily battle. For others, they choose to end their suffering by completing suicide.

This month, I am honored to be working with Scudder Intervention Services Foundation, Inc. (SISFI) on their Suicide Awareness and Prevention Tour in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County, NY. While I relied on SISFI for support myself after my brother's suicide almost a year-and-a-half ago, I was shocked to learn that during their September tour they interrupted 192 attempted suicides! That's something else!!

The difference with SISFI's 'troops' is that they are truly 'boots on the ground;' that is, they go to the person in crisis rather than referring them to an agency that may only be open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. At any hour of the day or night, SISFI volunteers are available to personally talk to and/or visit individuals in crisis.

As Mr. Brett A. Scudder, SISFI president says: "“It is imperative that our communities rally together to be educated and aware of the mindset of someone suffering with emotional distress and the early warning signs to intervene and prevent them from hurting themselves or taking their life because they feel alone."

And that, in my opinion, takes lots of courage. The suicidal person is in tremendous pain and Scudder's team will go to them and simply hold their hand or talk or listen or give them a hug and tell them they are not alone. Certified in suicide prevention, Scudder knows that traditional avenues available to those in crisis are highly clinical and limited. The goal is to train and deploy dozens of volunteer Mental Health First Aid Responders in communities across his service area and, in the future, beyond.

We must change the paradigm of how we respond to those in distress. We must go to them rather than making them come to us. We must not just be another faceless voice instructing the person what to do on Monday morning.

Hear, hear for SISFI and let's make their mission statement our own:

"TO PROVIDE AWARENESS, SERVICES, PROGRAMS, HEALING AND RESOURCES TO ADDRESS/ALLEVIATE HUMAN SUFFERING AND TO PROMOTE EMOTIONAL WELLNESS, MENTAL/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND LIFE SKILLS."

This, my friends, will take lots of courage.

SISFI TOURS

Home

Last night, I couldn't find my way home again. Yes, it was a dream but it is a recurring one that started when I was a teen and had no home with either my mother or father; or at least a secure, safe one. In this dream, my car broke down and I was surrounded by creepy looking strangers on a rainy, dark street corner, one of whom shot up my car with bullets. I kept calling my father and he wouldn't pick me up even though it was a terrific thunderstorm and I started to walk home - wherever that was - because I never did find it. I woke and it was over but I remain shaken.

These are remnants of the post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) I suffer. It started as a youngster when my 'home' was in sheer turmoil and I never knew what I would come 'home' to. It returned in full throttle after my dual diagnoses of cancer and Lupus and the trauma of an emergency tracheotomy and 16 torturous chemotherapy treatments during which my body continually tried to kill itself and I was in a hallucinatory state.

PTSD is most often associated with soldiers and victims of war. But prolonged exposure to what one perceives as a highly threatening environment or true health crisis can bring it on, too. Even national or worldwide worries about current events cause some of us to descend into a place of hellish stress, invoking trauma and symptoms of PTSD.

My PTSD experiences always seems to be the same - I simply can not identify home and am stranded in elevators and oceans; strange cities or street corners in the rain. It is so unpredictable. And during and after cancer treatment, I would wake from various states of stupor or dreams and run and hide in my closet or in the corner, shaking and crying uncontrollably from fear.

Recently, I learned about a PTSD healer - Michele Rosenthal of Florida and author of her own memoir BEFORE THE WORLD INTRUDED: Conquering the Past and Creating the Future. I don't normally tout anyone's commercial enterprise but Michele is on to something special and unique and, even if you don't feel like you have PTSD, take a look at Michele's story that began when she was five when she was diagnosed with a rare, critical health disorder, and you just might see bits and pieces of yourself. I know I did and, once again, I am glad I am not alone.

I know many of my readers are pet lovers like me. Michele tuned in to how one of her dogs handled severe stress and finds more lessons for us mere humans trying to soothe ourselves in times of stress, fear, or panic. I share this video that I feel is valid and important. There is so much we can learn from our furry friends. Thank you, Michele.

CLICK ON THE LINK TO WATCH SHORT VIDEO

What Animals Know About Managing Stress Emotions

My own little buddy - Shadow. Photo credit: Sherry Vance