The Pulse of Desperation
Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
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The man speaking to me on the phone, perhaps in his thirties or forties, practically wept as he asked me for an immediate counseling appointment. I gently let him know that neither I nor my twelve associates had any time available until the following Monday.
He sighed deeply as he pled, “Can you get me into an institution, then, right away?”
This desperate man is not alone in his inner suffering.
As I talk daily with people in my counseling practice, psychic pain seems more intense and amplified than in years past.
Our office manager took a week off recently giving me the opportunity to listen to callers and messages such as the one I related above.
Even though I talk to clients regularly, the sheer abundance and desperate tone of these interactions last week shook me!
My heart felt heavy. Taking a ground-level pulse like this was good for me. Hearing such intense emotional and gut-wrenching emotional misery of others sobered me.
Perhaps we at the counseling center get used to it, though I am not sure we should.
The Surgeon General of the United States issued an advisory just last year warning of the devastating impact of the current “epidemic of loneliness and isolation” in the USA.[i] You can read more about the epidemic of loneliness and isolation here.
The American Psychological Association reports the country “appears to be experiencing the psychological impacts of a collective trauma in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic”.[ii] We may think that life is “back to normal” but sadly, for many, it is not.
My experience with desperate callers and the confirmation of the authorities cited above made me reflect on the people you and I encounter and speak to regularly. I’d like to share three things we may want to keep in mind:
Desperate people surround us every day. In all walks of life. From the homeless to the CEO. They don’t always announce themselves. They may even hide their desperation behind a smile and a ‘Hi, how are you?’ So assume some are listening to your words and messages every day. Ponder what you may want to say to them.
Desperate people especially need love, though they may not always engender it. Troubled people may not act as nicely as they should or as nicely as they normally would. They may be that annoying person in your life. When children are troubled, they generally act it out in a negative way. Acting out usually means a child needs some extra attention. Maybe the same is true for adults!
Desperate people may be our mission field, the great opportunity we have at this time. Hurting people are often more open to God and his message, especially when it is expressed through love. Let’s ask God and reflect on the ways we each may capitalize on this unique opportunity.
My heart hurts for them. And my care and appreciation go out to each of you. Please take care of yourselves too!
Let us always remember what a holy call it is to be able to serve others in the Name of Christ.
I am in awe of the privilege God has given to care for those desperately hurting among us in his name.
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[i] The physical health consequences of poor or insufficient connection include a 29% increased risk of heart disease, a 32% increased risk of stroke, and a 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults. Additionally, lacking social connection increases risk of premature death by more than 60%.
Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/new-surgeon-general-advisory-raises-alarm-about-devastating-impact-epidemic-loneliness-isolation-united-states.html on 2/26/24
[ii] Psychologists warn that a superficial characterization of life being “back to normal” is obscuring the post-traumatic effects on mental and physical health. The long-term stress sustained since the COVID-19 pandemic began has had a significant impact on well-being, evidenced by a significant increase in reported mental health conditions and chronic illnesses…
Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/11/psychological-impacts-collective-trauma on 2/26/24
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