This week in history marks many tragic events in American history:
the Columbine massacre, the Branch Davidian inferno, the Boston Marathon bombing, the Randy Weaver/ATF battle in Idaho, the West Virginia Tech siege, and the Oklahoma City blast. Of this week, April 20th seems to attract the worst violence and it is also Hitler's birthday.
April historically is also associated with more suicides and increased bi-polar episodes than any other time of year. The working theory is that for people experiencing depression, the increasing light raises chemicals in the brain giving energy to people who have felt psychologically stuck due to being emotional obtunded. This energy is channeled into underlying pathology motivating those paralyzed by frozen rage into constructing a symbolic plan which makes an indelible (usually) deadly statement.
This is the week to watch those who have been desperately struggling, have lacked support, have been bullied or targeted, and are emotionally disconnected. In this Trump age of self-absorption, we now have many who could find good reason to jump, pick up a gun, act out, and feel they have nothing to lose. Those are the ones all of us need to reach out to. These events do not happen in a vacuum. At some point along the way, the perpetrators of these horrific events were given a choice.
Maybe this year we can recognize those people in our lives at a critical juncture and offer solace, kindness, and support instead. Many years ago working in Workers Comp, I spent time with a deeply depressed man just talking about his burdens. After his claim was finished, he wrote me a letter saying he had intended to commit suicide that day until he spoke with me. Something I had said convinced him to wait, to not act, to give himself time to work things out. And it did for him-he was grateful that I helped avert an impulsive act. I honestly don't remember what I said but whatever I did, it convinced me we all have these opportunities to change a course of a life.
So this week, remember stress affects us all but it does not take much to reach out.
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