When we think about the life pattern of the average Telecare client, a distressing sequence emerges: childhood abuse, followed by drug addiction, leading to mental illness and often resulting in criminal activity. This trajectory isn't just a coincidence; it’s a tragic chain reaction triggered by unresolved trauma. And yet, despite the glaring need for trauma-informed care, Telecare's approach is to disregard the roots of their clients’ pain, adopting a “tough love” stance that demands they simply “man up” to their past and focus on today’s issues. But what happens when we ignore the foundational trauma in a person’s life? The answer, as many clients and their families know all too well, is often more harm than healing.
The Cycle of Abuse and Its Lingering Shadows
Childhood abuse leaves deep scars that don’t just fade with time. These wounds often fester, manifesting later in life as drug addiction, mental illness, and criminal behavior. For many, substance abuse becomes a way to numb the pain, to forget the horrors of an abusive past. Mental illness can be the mind’s desperate attempt to cope with what it can’t comprehend or reconcile. And criminal activity? It’s sometimes the final outcry of a soul that’s been pushed too far, too often.
Yet, instead of addressing this trauma head-on, Telecare's “tough love” approach insists that these individuals suppress their past, sweep their trauma under the rug, and tackle only the issues of the present. But here’s the thing about trauma: it doesn’t just disappear because you ignore it. In fact, repression often exacerbates the very issues Telecare aims to resolve.
Tough Love: A Misguided Approach to Healing
The philosophy of “tough love” might have its place in certain situations, but when dealing with trauma survivors, it can be not just ineffective but outright damaging. Telling someone who has experienced the horrors of child abuse to simply “get over it” and deal with today’s challenges is like telling a person with a broken leg to run a marathon. The pain doesn’t go away just because you will it to; it becomes more excruciating with every step.
What Telecare seems to overlook is the simple truth that unresolved trauma is a root cause of the problems their clients face today. By refusing to address this trauma, by insisting that clients “man up” and move on without the necessary tools or support, Telecare is not helping them to heal. Instead, they are perpetuating a cycle of suffering.
The Harm of Repression
Repressing trauma is not just unhelpful; it’s harmful. Studies have shown that when trauma is not addressed, it can lead to a host of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more. For those already struggling with mental illness, adding layers of unprocessed trauma only worsens their condition. And for those on the brink of recovery, this approach can push them back into the arms of addiction or criminal behavior.
What Telecare’s tough love fails to recognize is that healing requires more than just dealing with the present. It requires understanding and addressing the past. Without this crucial step, any progress made is fragile at best, like building a house on a cracked foundation. The house might stand for a while, but eventually, those cracks will cause it to crumble.
A Call for Trauma-Informed Care
It’s time for a shift in how Telecare and similar organizations approach mental health treatment. Instead of insisting that clients ignore their pasts, we must advocate for trauma-informed care that recognizes the deep and lasting impact of child abuse and other forms of trauma. This means providing the support, therapy, and understanding necessary to help individuals process their trauma and truly heal.
Trauma-informed care doesn’t just treat the symptoms; it addresses the root cause. It acknowledges that the issues of today cannot be fully resolved without understanding and healing from the traumas of yesterday. Only then can clients move forward in a meaningful and lasting way.
Conclusion
Telecare’s tough love approach might sound strong and empowering on the surface, but for those who have endured the unimaginable, it’s a recipe for further harm. We cannot expect individuals to simply “man up” and move on from a past that haunts their every step. Instead, we must offer them the care and compassion they need to confront their trauma, heal from it, and build a better future. Only then can we break the cycle of child abuse, addiction, mental illness, and criminal activity that so many of Telecare’s clients find themselves trapped in. It’s time to move away from tough love and towards a model of care that truly understands and addresses the complexities of trauma.
by Dan and Bonkers
danjoyceart.com
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