A Mental Health Moment

Two Cups of Tea at Hope’s Cafe

Driving to an appointment in Billings, I exited the interstate and prepared to turn left onto the street that would take me to my destination.  Standing there where the exit intersected the road was a scruffy looking fellow with a crudely made cardboard sign.  I expected it to say something like “Will work for food” or “Stranded.  Trying to get to Kalamazoo.”  Instead I saw “Ninjas stole my families need for karate lessons.”  Stunned, I noticed the driver of the car behind me had rolled down the window and was engaging the man in conversation.  The light turned green and I drove on, puzzled.

What was this poor soul trying to convey?  I recall a man I saw in therapy years ago who believed in a conspiracy theory popular in the early 2,000s, and coincidentally still around, about reptilian people, shape shifters, who appear to be human but are reptiles’ intent on taking over the government.  According to the site The Psychology of Extraordinary Beliefs offered by Ohio State University,* four percent of the people in the United States believe in this theory which claims these ‘lizard people’ to be “bloodthirsty reptilian aliens (who) first arrived on earth in ancient times.  Since then, these beings have been merging with humans through the manipulation of DNA, as well as interbreeding with the human population.  The goal of this process was to gain control of the world by obtaining positions of power and influence: royalty, politicians, popular entertainers, etc.”

In one response to the article, a man wrote in lengthy, garbled paragraphs about his experiences as a shape shifter.  At one point he mentioned being confused and scared.  I never challenged my client about his belief but listened instead for the feelings that belief represented.  I wonder if the young man by the side of the road felt compelled to warn people of “ninja” forces, powers that could rob a family of their security. Whatever his intent, this incident serves as a reminder to be compassionate towards those who struggle with mental health issues, whose behavior expresses some need often incomprehensible to us. The young therapists I supervised early in my career jokingly—I prefer to think ‘kindly’— referred to this as “Kathleen’s Need Theory.” Then again, we were working at a children’s home, where the children’s behavior was often our best clue as to what was going on within them.

“By responding with empathy and compassion, the healing results affect us all.”—Brene Brown

*”Behind the Belief: Lizard People” February 12, 2019, Psychology of Extraordinary Beliefs, Ohio State University

 The invitation is open to share “two cups of tea” anytime at Hope’s Café, or anywhere you share companionship and conversation.

May we be bearers of hope, the “wait staff” of Hope’s Café for each other and all those we encounter.  Shalom, Kate