It's a damn scary word. But it's not the biggest killer in the world. Up until this year the biggest deaths in the world came from suicide (only surpasssed by Covid this year). And as I've fought my own battle with mental health/illness for the last 40 years I realize that I have a cancer - a growth on the inside of my mind that is just as damning and deadly. I know there will be skeptics to this thought, and I would hope so. We all don't have to believe the same things, but there is a real sickness that can go into remission, appear as a small speck on the xray and grow to take away everything that we hold dear.
CANCER
Definition:
noun
a disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body.
"he's got cancer"
a malignant growth or tumor resulting from the division of abnormal cells.
plural noun: cancers
"most skin cancers are curable"
a practice or phenomenon perceived to be evil or destructive and hard to contain or eradicate.
"gambling is a cancer sweeping across the nation"
Ladies and Gentlemen, it's real. Some may be a simple skin rash that develops into a simple surgical procedure, while other cancers may grow and become horrifying black holes that literally suck the life out of us. Mental cancer tears at our minds, pulling apart just like living Cancer tears at the physical body.
I'm writing this to help myself better grasp it, but also to let anyone who will listen realize that we have so many that are sick. I just spent yet another time in one of those places that people don't like to talk about. It tears my heart out while I'm still striving to heal myself. And prayers and miracles can happen, but let's be real. It kills more than are saved. I don't count myself lucky. What I do count myself is tasked with talking about it. Making it real to those who can't comprehend. Listening to those who need that ear. I'm no expert, but my trauma started at 7 years old. And I will continue to fight it until God actually allows me to come home. By his power, not mine.
Peace ~
Chad
