A hero with anxiety?

Does having anxiety or panic attacks disqualify you from being numbered amongst the mighty heroes of the past, film, literature or your next door neighbor that happens to be a secluded person dealing with it (You find out he’s a gulf war vet)?

A hero is defined as a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.

Depending on the context and their daily struggles this can be applied to anyone.

Let’s take someone with Parkinson’s that has an above average IQ, understands the disease process, it’s prognosis and it’s myriad of paths to the final outcome. Not knowing from day to day what the disease may bring your way. Just because you had a good day yesterday doesn’t mean today and tomorrow will be. Even your morning experience with parkinson’s can be different than your evening experience.

So, using our example above and applying the definition of hero to a person with Parkinson’s disease, yes they can be considered a hero based on context and the people deeming him/her with that title.

Noble qualities – encompass admirable character traits and ideals, such as honesty, generosity, courage, and integrity, that are highly valued and evoke respect. They represent excellence in character and inspire emulation. 

Well, to me that’s an easy one, Parkinson’s can change you but these qualities many people with the disease embody these traits just like a healthy volunteer fireman.

They could be admired for their daily courage they display living with this horrid unpredictable disease. Of course, you would need to know this person to make that call, that observation but it’s there. We who have this disease, don’t know from day to day what to expect. Something you were able to do yesterday may be more difficult or impossible to do today. But you push on.

This is an admirable trait. A never quit attitude, do or die mentality, even though you know you’ll lose the war, you still fight, you still achieve your little victories to celebrate.

I’ve alluded to this one already, but outstanding achievements. Hell, walking through a doorway without “freezing” stopping and having extreme difficulty passing through that portal is huge, frustrating and embarrassing, when you achieve it, this is an outstanding achievement, admired by your therapist and loved ones and family members. Its a big deal.

A very big deal. You find that little victories become huge. Celebrate them and embrace them.

Take all this and make it anxiety and panic attacks. Attach it to the protagonist of your story. It doesn’t not make him a hero but what it does is make him a believable, relatable hero that you take his shoes or boot in Bret’s care and slip them on for a chapter or three and get a glimpse into their psyche around the issues they deal with daily. Everyone has something they’re dealing with. That’s why we shouldn’t judge them instantly at that moment in time because the attitude of theirs that’s front and center may be because of an incident that happened moments prior to your encounter with them.

You just don’t know until you slip on those proverbial shoes of theirs and walk in them. It usually doesn’t take long for you to see where they’re coming from.

So, Bret, flawed, has Parkinson’s, anxiety, panic attacks, deals with depression, heart issues in his history, probably suffers from PTS.

But every time he pushes through and fights a multi-front conflict.

The one within.

And the one without against the invasion forces, marauders and zealots, nature, and dwindling or hard to acquire resources.

And the loss and tragedy of losing friends, family and loved ones as well as the lack of stability in his life. Which is a big thing in someone’s life dealing with his issues.

He’s a hero, flawed but that’s what makes him great. The people come to look up to him because of his exploits, his sacrifices that he endures voluntarily at times.

He’s that initially reluctant hero that starts his journey for selfish reasons – saving the girl – then finds meaning for his existence through his journey across the battle ravaged U.S. fighting two wars, one he knows he can’t win the other, he knows he can if his time doesn’t run out.

What are your thoughts on a hero?

A wonderful person P.J. Gudka liked this post and I checked her site out, informative and cool. For those who are looking for some direction, information concerning mental health issues, she has a cool blog and website covering more than MHI. Thanks P.J. Gudka for allowing me to link to your wonderful article.