Have you ever read the article "Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning" by Mario Vittone? He is very qualified to write on the subject. He was in the Coast Guard with a career in a helicopter rescue.
The idea of his article is that we think drowning is going to be dramatic, with a lot of flailing around. Something that would really catch your attention if you happen to be nearby. But there are physical things going on with a drowning person that don't allow him to call out for help or wave for attention. That makes it so scary, because a child can drown just feet away from you, and you would never know until it's too late.
This is a really good reminder going into summer. With pool parties, trips to the lake, and beach days, we just can't be too careful. But as I read these warnings about drowning recently, it struck me that this can really apply to more than just the physical realm.
Have you ever felt like you were drowning inside, and no one seemed to know? I have. But it didn't look like drowning to everyone. You see, we all have a picture in our minds of what drowning should look like. And I was pretty much holding it together. I was being strong. So I couldn't be drowning. But I was. I don't blame people for not seeing it. A lot of people wouldn't have been able to help even if they knew.
I wonder how many of the people we have contact with are drowning--not on the outside, but inside. Maybe if we are more aware of the concept that drowning doesn't look like drowning, we can more easily spot them. I know I want to rescue someone if I can. When your body drowns, you die. But when you are drowning inside you go on living without hope. That's just no way to live.
The idea of his article is that we think drowning is going to be dramatic, with a lot of flailing around. Something that would really catch your attention if you happen to be nearby. But there are physical things going on with a drowning person that don't allow him to call out for help or wave for attention. That makes it so scary, because a child can drown just feet away from you, and you would never know until it's too late.
This is a really good reminder going into summer. With pool parties, trips to the lake, and beach days, we just can't be too careful. But as I read these warnings about drowning recently, it struck me that this can really apply to more than just the physical realm.
Have you ever felt like you were drowning inside, and no one seemed to know? I have. But it didn't look like drowning to everyone. You see, we all have a picture in our minds of what drowning should look like. And I was pretty much holding it together. I was being strong. So I couldn't be drowning. But I was. I don't blame people for not seeing it. A lot of people wouldn't have been able to help even if they knew.
I wonder how many of the people we have contact with are drowning--not on the outside, but inside. Maybe if we are more aware of the concept that drowning doesn't look like drowning, we can more easily spot them. I know I want to rescue someone if I can. When your body drowns, you die. But when you are drowning inside you go on living without hope. That's just no way to live.
I'm so thankful I was rescued!
This is excellent. Would you mind if I use part of this article as a posting on Widows and Widowers? Sometimes we are just unable to get people's attention, and because we may seem and look normal on the outside, they assume we are "okay" and "over it." When we are all the while "drowning" in grief. Loss is devastating, in whatever form it cloaks itself.
ReplyDeleteYes, please feel free to share this post, and any others that you feel might help.
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