Turning A Blind Eye: Mental Health Consequences

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A Little Story:
Over the past weekend, my neighbours and I celebrated Earth Day by picking up garbage on our street.  This activity impressed upon me how, as a society, we are “turning a blind eye” to our environment and ourselves.  Daily, we walk by all kinds of trash on our streets and do not give it a second thought, myself included!
Maybe we're caught up in our struggles, or maybe it all just feels too big and hopeless to fix—but still, we walk by.
This got me thinking about the many ways we “turn a blind eye” in our lives and the consequences of this action. 
What Does "To Turn A Blind Eye" Mean?
“To turn a blind eye" is to purposely pretend not to notice something so you don't have to address it.
Mental Health Consequences
Turning a blind eye can take on many forms, such as not addressing bullying,  discrimination, or problems in our personal lives.  Initially, it may feel like a relief, but it is not. Over time, these avoidant actions take a high toll on our mental health. When we don't want to acknowledge a situation and suppress our true feelings, they become bottled up inside our minds and bodies with regret, remorse, and guilt.  This results in greater mental and physical tensions that can manifest as chronic pain, anxiety, and depression - the feelings just don’t disappear.  Furthermore, what began as a conscious choice can turn into an unconscious pattern of avoidance, which we repeat with little to no awareness, many times over - like not seeing the garbage on our streets.
Turning a blind eye erodes our sense of self because our actions and values do not align. This internal conflict is called cognitive dissonance and can lead to a diminished sense of self-worth, persistent anxiety, depression, and procrastination.
Turning a blind eye offers only short-term relief from emotional discomfort.  In the long run, it unconsciously amplifies the distress we’re trying to avoid. Turning to look at and address difficult truths and situations, even just a bit, can improve your mental health and overall sense of well-being, offering renewed calm and empowerment. 

A Quick Quiz
Do you brush things off as "no big deal?"
Do you feel guilty or overly responsible?
Do you feel overly anxious, angry, or depressed?
Do you find yourself choosing to be silent?
Do you avoid addressing issues that are important to you?

First Steps To Change:
1. Pause and Acknowledge the Discomfort
Create space to gain a sense of what you might be feeling. Use a feeling wheel to help name the feeling(s). This breaks the autonomic habit of avoidance.
 2. Use Grounding Techniques
Remaining present in uncomfortable feelings is challenging.  Grounding techniques such as: 

  • Parasympathetic breathing
    (count of 4 breaths in and a count of 10 breaths out)

  • Locate 3 things with each of your senses.

  • Imagine your aura as a force field around you.

 3. Reflect To Learn:
Become curious about your reaction to "turn a blind eye".
      “What happened there?”
      “Why did I want to turn away and avoid?”
      “What could I do differently next time?”

Therapy can provide insight into your personal dynamic, allowing for greater overall awareness of yourself and others.  Therapy can help you master new communication skills that support healthier, more effective ways to engage and respond.