
Updated 14 November 2024
The intricate connections between physical health and psychological well-being are undeniable. Just as the human body relies on a circulatory system that pumps blood to deliver nutrients and sustain life, the soul depends on an equally complex psychological circulatory system. When the soul’s circulatory system encounters strangulation, exsanguination or toxification, the consequences can be catastrophic, leading to severe crises, such as profound despair which may culminate with suicide.
Identity forms the core of our psychological circulatory system. Self-awareness and purpose are the core through which we build resilience and mental fortitude. A strong, coherent sense of self is akin to a robust heart—capable of withstanding external pressures and internal conflicts. Conversely, when identity is fragmented or obscured by psychological trauma, it disrupts the soul’s circulatory flow, leaving one vulnerable to disorders such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
Recognizing the signs of psychological distress and intervening with appropriate coping strategies is crucial. Effective measures can include therapy, medication, support groups and mindfulness practices, but personal relationships and community connections are vital. Building a strong support network and engaging in activities that foster purpose and identity can help reinforce the soul’s circulatory system. Crisis intervention resources are essential for those experiencing acute episodes of distress.
Our physical circulatory system is essential for distributing oxygen and nutrients via the blood to feed the cells and promote healing and growth. Similarly, the soul’s circulatory system is responsible for distributing self-awareness, drive and connection, which promotes strength, belonging and understanding of our identity and purpose. A healthy circulatory system for the soul provides emotional equilibrium and resilience. Blockages such as psychological trauma, toxic relationships or unresolved grief obstruct that flow, which causes psychological injury comparable to the physical injury that results from occluded blood vessels.
Hope is the oxygen we need for our soul. When we hold our breath, our level of desperation climbs and we lose sight of the ability to create the change needed to see the future. Our character is driven by action, and becomes damaged when we cannot complete the tasks before us.
Soul disease, comparable to chronic circulatory diseases like arteriosclerosis, manifests through persistent psychological distress. Symptoms include pervasive feelings of sadness, a loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, severe anxiety and a profound sense of hopelessness. This deteriorating psychological state can be as debilitating as physical illnesses, diminishing the quality of life and impeding activities of daily life. The soul injuries that often present to us, similar to physical injuries of the circulatory system, are strangulation, exsanguination or toxicity.
STRANGULATION: Many veterans report feeling an inability to breathe when they have lost hope. The feelings of suffocation - the desperation that occurs when "it feels as though I am drowning," has been expressed on many occasions by veterans who have lost the ability to see the future. When our character is damaged so that we feel we have no control over our future, we feel desperation and a sense of drowning. This strangulation sensation may occur in response to a "death by a thousand cuts" scenario. When life is just feeling overwhelming - perhaps due to the interminable administrative hoops that need to be jumped through, or the repeated bad decisions made while trying to navigate unresolved traumatic experiences - it becomes very difficult to see the future and how to move forward. David Lloyd George states that "there is nothing so fatal to character as half-finished tasks." Many veterans experience this struggle with the inability to accomplish tasks due to hesitation, fear or worry tied to unresolved emotions that stem from traumatic experiences. A community surge, or even just the simple guidance from a friend, is what is needed to help the injured create a plan, prioritize the steps and cultivate a future they can see and believe in.
EXSANGUINATION: A hemorrhage, such as an arterial bleed, of the physical body demands immediate intervention to save the life. A soul bleed occurs when a person faces severe emotional trauma or loss of identity due to love that is lost and remains absent. This is injury is destructive to the self. If the trauma is severe enough to cause suicidal ideation, immediate intervention is necessary to find the path through the grief and to build connection and reactivate the cognitive part of the brain. It is imperative at this point for an intervention to shift the psychological response from fight-or-flight mode to logic and reasoning, where the individual is able to find their way back to community and belonging.
TOXIFICATION: Toxification of the soul may result from unhealthy or abusive relationships, manipulation by others, a struggle to fit in somewhere, or self-destructive actions. This is similar to the poisoning of the blood stream that occurs when self-medicating with drugs or alcohol. The damage from a conflict in a toxic relationship can leave the veteran reeling and crushes identity and purpose, limiting resilience and mental fortitude. Self-doubt may rage under these circumstances, leading to inability to make good decisions, which can lead to a negative spiral effect that paralyzes the victim. The needed intervention in this case is to eliminate the toxicity by managing relationships. Emotional co-regulation with community partners is essential to help the victim recognize the threat and be able to see life beyond the toxicity.
Just as the body’s circulatory system is vital for life, the soul’s psychological circulatory system is vital for psychological well-being. Identity forms the heart of this system, and when it falters, the whole system is at risk of collapse. Recognizing and addressing blockages, blood loss and poison within the soul’s circulatory system is imperative for preventing soul disease and mitigating the risk of suicide. With the right support and interventions within the community, it is possible to heal and reinvigorate the soul, fostering a life full of meaning and emotional health.
(c)2024, Warrior Healing Center
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