The Year 2000 – Revisited

This was a very interesting week at Basic Steps Mental Health. With all of the talk about WWIII and nuclear war, I was reminded of the panic that hit everybody with the Y2K. If you weren’t old enough to remember what was going on back then, the main computers in charge of all the critical systems in the country were not equipped to switch to the year 2000. Fearing nuclear meltdown at the time, I had session after session with people to calm their fears. One person, in particular, was a fellow student I graduated with.

How do you calm down a person that is fearing for their life? There isn’t a one size fits all approach. There are a combination of factors that need to be addressed before somebody gets a grasp on themselves and can be more at ease. Get a grasp on themselves must seem like strange wording. However, that is actually the mechanism.

At the Mental Health Urgent Care Center, many people came in in a crisis. Their ability to cope didn’t match the current situation and had become overwhelmed. When this takes place it is important to stop, breathe in and out and try to relax your muscles. Breathe in relaxation and exhale tension. Then ask yourself what is it you are fearing. In this past week it was obvious that us being closer to Russia, and Boeing and the Navy base so close in proximity, the first nuke would probably land on our doorstep. Is that the 100% truth? Until we know beyond a shadow of a doubt then all of the worrying is for nothing, but still, the worries continue.

The next step is to ride this feeling back in time and address it at the root. Did it feel like the world was coming to an end with trauma and abuse when you were younger? If so, love needs to be applied to the younger part inside of you that went through that situation. This effort is not a one-time fix. It is important to create a relationship with the younger you and help him or her grow up through reparenting exercises. What if this still doesn’t work?

Now we move into Existential Psychology. The psychology of death. What happens when you die? Does everything go to nothingness? This is what originally sent me to therapy. I hated waking up in the middle of the night and pondering absolute nothingness. Is there a soul? If so, what happens to your soul when your body gives out? You may try to push this out of your mind and into the subconscious, but it is still there and will bite you when you least expect it. I remember my Step Mother needing to sleep with the television on at a level of 11. I needed to wear earplugs when I slept 100 feet away. She hated the thought of death and didn’t want to think about it ever, so this was her strategy. For great mental health, it is important to address this existential question.

Obviously, I studied Spiritual Psychology for a reason. I didn’t want to experience nothingness and needed to go on my own search. It was similar I guess to Ponce De Leon in searching for the fountain of youth. He wanted to remain, to be young and healthy, but the basic fact is that we all have an expiration date.

As a therapist, this is my first guttural belief. The more a person is frightened, the more they are confused about death. It is a taboo subject for many people because in addressing it, death becomes more real.

The first step is education. There are many books on death and dying, Many on reincarnation. One of my favorites is named, “Dying to be Me.” In this book a woman had died for a few hours, came back, and had total recall of what it was like on the other side. It is interesting reading about something you’ve tried to avoid, but then there is also a sense of relief when you discover something that gives you hope.

Of course, the last step is the first step in our society, and that is medication. Don’t get me wrong, in working at a crisis center for 11 years I saw the value of medication management. To be honest, it should be mandated for some people who are psychotic or so extremely bipolar it is difficult for them to cope. Here is where the brain’s chemistry needs to be taken into account.

I am reminded of one woman that came into the Urgent Care that was delusional, having conversations with people who weren’t there, and our Psychiatrist decided to try a new medication out called Saphris. It was something you simply put under your tongue and would bypass the liver. Literally, in 20 minutes, the woman was normal. I mean she was really normal, like the movie “Awakenings!” Our staff was amazed! Yes, modern science is incredible, but it only stabilizes. To get to the root of the intense fear you have some investigating to do.

If this article touches you, please share it. If it describes you, come on in for treatment. You don’t have to continue to tolerate this condition.

Compassionate Care is Always Available

There are many more tools and strategies you can use in your pursuit of happiness. Here is where we come in. Contact us at Basic Steps Mental Health and let us support and educate you on this journey back to your loving heart center. Imagine living a heart-centered life, regardless of what is happening externally. We’d love to be of help.

For 25 years, Dr. Scott Alpert, the clinical director of Basic Steps Mental Health, has treated over 7,000 people with mental health and addiction problems, using a Psychological approach that mixes and matches ten of the top approaches used in the industry.  We are here virtually and in-person to help you get through this COVID-19 pandemic and many other difficulties you may be experiencing.

May you have good mental health.