When WHO redefined health as a state of physical, social and psychological wellbeing and not just the absence of infirmity; the business of health became more complex and intersectoral. It is important to know that fulfillment correlates more with psychic mental states than material possession. Sigmund Freud postulated hypotheses on how the mind operates both in illness and health. The conscious mind according to him is only the tip of an iceberg that has a submerged active subconscious part. This shows that the human mind is complex and has capacity of recording past, traumatic events that may invariably cause mental and physical illness. The mind and the body are intricately linked in a way that science has not exhaustively unveiled. This conditioned man into the practice of religion and philosophy as rational attempts at modulating the activities of the mind in the direction of wellbeing. Evidence abounds, that spirituality as opposed to sick religiosity correlates well with sound mental health. The human mind is capable of being injured especially in relationship to others. The science of society; sociology, shows that human beings as complex animals construct communities through social interactions that involve rules and processes. The reality is that these interactions expose us to hurt and offence. Marriage is the most basic relationship unit in the society that involves coming together of 2 selfish individuals attempting to build a selfless project. Partners may come from different backgrounds with different temperamental make ups and values; conflict is inevitable which could be prolonged thereby festering deeply. In the process, immature defense mechanisms are employed where irrational generalizations and deductions are made, to nail the partner. Parenting is a form of interaction with deep seated emotional implications because parents may take decisions for their children which may traumatize their minds with mental health implications.
A good number of our children seeking succor in psychoactive substances may have had emotional traumas that were not managed. This becomes very important in our culture where there are sanctioned subtle repressions and violations of the psychological space of others without necessary feedbacks of apology.
Terrorism is a bye-product of reckless violation of the growing minds of the underprivileged. There are numerous unreported accounts of psychological violation of persons in the workplace .As a nation, cumulative evidence of gross violations of fundamental human rights of the citizenry abound over the years. Farmlands and natural vegetation of communities degraded without commensurate compensation just as pensioners who had invested the most productive part of their lifetime in the service of the nation are not duly compensated.
There are psychological databanks of abuse across life span over the years with sociopolitical manifestations in the polity. There is a need to address this not only at a personal level but as a nation which necessitates the urgent need for the creation of an independent administrative department of mental health both at the federal and state levels of government. The ultimate prescription is to seek forgiveness and to grant pardon.
Psychologists generally define forgiveness as a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness. When you forgive, you do not gloss over or deny the seriousness of an offense against you. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting nor does it mean condoning or excusing offenses. Instead, forgiveness brings the forgiver peace of mind and frees him or her from corrosive anger and letting go of deeply held negative feelings in a way that empowers you to recognize the pain you suffered without letting it define you as you heal and move on with your life. Forgiveness may also include forgiving oneself of past mistakes and misdeeds as you turn a new leaf. In most contexts, forgiveness will have to be granted without restorative justice and without any response on the part of the offended that may be dead, incommunicado or cannot admit he or she did any wrong. This is where religion comes in as an arbiter through the concept of divine forgiveness as a template to offer forgiveness for others. Studies show that people who forgive are happier and healthier than those who hold resentments. Forgiveness has been empirically demonstrated to improve functioning of cardiovascular and nervous systems. In three separate studies, including one with Catholics and Protestants from Northern Ireland whose family members were murdered in political violence; people taught how to forgive as a skill became less angry, less hurt, more optimistic and more self-confident with reduction in stress and increased vitality. Let us ensure we do away with every form of bitterness that can damage our mental and physical health.
Dr Adeoye Oyewole
adeoyewole2000@yahoo.com
+2348034905808(Whatsapp only)
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