Monday, January 11, 2010

Dignity



"One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but cannot be taken away unless it is surrendered." Micheal J. Fox

She was the first-born of triplet girls and weighed only 2 pounds. Her parents wanted to prepare her for marriage...not a career. They refused to support her decision to attend university...She chose to go anyways....without their support. 


She became one of the most loved and respected psychiatrist of our time. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross...well known for her work on death and dying...practised psychiatry at a U.S. facility early in her career. It was there she tested her theory.....if you show compassion, kindness and respect to even the most disturbed patients.....they will respond positively.  It worked. No drugs, no force, no punishment...  
"Patients with even the most severe illnesses seemed to respond to Kübler-Ross's compassionate approach. The indifferent and even inhumane treatment of patients in psychiatric hospitals appalled the young doctor, and the more freedom she was allowed in treating patients, the more successful results she achieved......

When I think about the 'professionals' who used force.....tying me to a bed, locking me in a closet sized room, pumping me full of sedatives that gave me horrible side effects...I still get angry...I want to strike back at them....hurt them the way they hurt me. Why did they think it was acceptable to treat anyone like that?  And that type of 'treatment' goes on all the time in government run homes and institutions. 

The dictionary defines dignity as - a term used to signify that a human being has an inate right to respect and ethical treatment. 

Some of those professionals claiming to 'help' me - stripped me of any shred of dignity I may have had. They said they were simply trying to stop me from hurting myself.  Their force, their control...their methods only pushed me to lash out more....and intensified my self-hatred.  What they did...was reinforce what I had already learned growing up in a violent home....


Dignity....He touched me....and showed me a different way. He showed me compassion, kindness....gentleness. He changed me like Kubler-Ross's kindness changed her patients. Dignity - I never want to take that from anybody....

18 comments:

One Prayer Girl said...

HE is total compassion, kindness, gentleness - the essence of LOVE.

Love - the greatest medicine, the greatest healer. God is Love.

PG

Andrea said...

Praising GOD for HIS healing touch.
Hugs and prayers, andrea

JBR said...

Sarah, this post is raw! How God has touched your soul deep to draw out the pain along with compassion, kindness and gentleness. What an awesome God! Thank you for sharing! ((((Sarah))))

Kristen Torres-Toro said...

He restores all that. And because of what happened to you, he can use you to help someone suffering terribly. You're already doing, Sarah!

RCUBEs said...

I'm glad He found us sister and took away all the pain, the hurt, the shame...Stay strong.

Deborah Ann said...

Looks like 'love' found a way. Hurting people just need to know they are loved and precious. So much damage is done when these so-called 'health professionals' try to fix things with scare tactics and drugs. Thank God for God!

Deborah said...

Thank you for keeping Penny in your prayers.
I am going to be ordering your book thank you for giving me the name. I did not know you had other blogs!
May God Bless you.
Deborah

Shattered said...

You are very right. A bit of dignity and love will go a long way... I am so glad that you found someone who showed you love and helped you find your dignity.

Denise said...

You are such a special blessing, love you my friend.

A Plain Observer said...

far from the horror you endured, I always went to the ones no one talked to. I found that they smiled and slowly started talking to me. At times, others would discover there was a person there and they befriended them. It seems they were waiting to be discovered

Susan said...

I identify with this in so many ways. Some ppl couldn't understand why I became so angry when I was locked up - they thought I was "resisting treatment". I WAS - I was resisting that kind of treatment that leaves you feeling less of a human.
I'm sorry you had to go through all of that. Thank you so much for the comment you left on my blog. It means so much to me.
((((hugs))))

Carrie Cooper said...

Carrie @ comfortedbyGod.blogspot.com

Sarah- I'll never forget your sweet words of encouragement you wrote on my blog. In fact, your questions spurred me to post a new article. I truly hope we both are used by God to encourage the brokenhearted.

Sheila Deeth said...

Such a powerful post. Dignity is invaluable.

Kathy M. said...

This post moved me. I'm glad I found you. Thanks for sharing, and best of luck with your book.

Paula said...

I can relate so very much. Any kind of additional force, pressure used to highly upset me. An ykind however I consider myself grateful for never having been exposed to such therapists. You are such a survivor. And came such a long way. Hugs to you

Terri Tiffany said...

Great post!! I know you must be a very compassionate person from what you've experienced. People around you are blessed.

A Mother Always said...

It appears we can only be redeemed through pain and suffering.
Be strong

BM

Margie said...

You are a truly amazing person, Sarah.

Blessings to you, always!