We looked recently how difficult it is for humans to come to terms with change - even though we intellectually know that it is the only constant in life.

The seven stages set out were; 1) Shock 2) Resistance 3) Worry 4) Loss of control 5) Depression 6) Exploration 7) Discovery 8) Adjustment (loosely based on Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's work on grief and loss.)

Looking at the Moodscope blogs, many talk about or refer to something which we either took time to come to terms with or when we ignored something - until the 'pain' got too great. This is why many of us fall into depression; we are not prepared to 'see' what we need to see - some of us are 'stuck' in what is called 'Willful Blindness'.

This is when we are neither willing (or at times able) to 'see' what is really before us and is now a legal principle, which states that you are still responsible if 'you could have known, and should have known, something which instead, you strove not to see'.

This made me think of how many personal 'crimes' are committed, not in dark secretive criminal places, but in broad daylight, in full view of hundreds of thousands of people, especially our children.

Those I immediately thought of may be uncomfortable for some - sun tanning and obesity.

Everyone knows that sun tanning and over eating are dangerous and yet society, unlike smoking now and seat belts before, still accept such potentially disabling or even deadly behaviour. For example presently in Britain someone dies of skin cancer every four hours, yet sunbeds still increase in number - 30% since 1998!

Now why do I offer these uncomfortable thoughts?

Many of us, including myself, stay with something far longer than we need to do. The unhealthy familiar often makes us feel secure and comfortable.

Yet often that 'comfort' leads to a drip, drip, drip of discomfort, until we fall into that depression or angst.

As you can see from the eight stages above, we could be stuck at any of the earlier stages from shock to depression and the effort to move may have to be built up over a period of time to move into exploration and discovery and the desired adjustment.

This is why good friends and Moodscope buddies are often absolutely essential to recovery. On occasions we need such people to be our 'eyes' and tell us what they see that we do not and also provide energy to support (even push) us through each stage of recovery.

What are you 'willfully blind' to right now - and is it causing some of your mental challenges?

"Lie to me just a little bit longer.

Lie to me until I'm stronger...

I'm not ready yet,

To accept

The truth.

So lie to me."

(from Heartless - Ridley/Bicat)

Les

A Moodscope user.