Imagine yourself trapped in a small room. Time drags on like a snail in a dreary Sunday afternoon. For many prisoners, life in a prison Steel Cell is like that. The mental maze is what makes you feel like you’re in prison.
Imagine waking every morning to the same dull, cold ceiling, same cold bed and same unnerving silence. You won’t hear birds singing outside your window, nor will you see a sunrise. It’s just monotonous repetition. You start to believe in yourself. To stay sane, you might begin talking to yourself.
A former prisoner I spoke with said that it was like living in his head all the time. He told me that he couldn’t escape his thoughts, and his eyes were wide with memories he would rather forget. They haunt you.
Isolation can be a funny thing for people. Have you ever heard of cabin-fever? Then multiply that by ten and add some hopelessness. This is solitary confinement.
Humans are social animals by nature. We thrive off of interaction, laughter and even arguments at times! You’ll be left with an unfillable void if you take away the interaction, laughter and sometimes even arguments. Many prisoners feel invisible, as if their existence has been erased.
Without stimulation, the mind begins to deteriorate. Some people find reading a lifeline. Books become portals into another world, where they can temporarily escape from their grim reality.
What happens if there is nothing to read? Boredom is like a guest that refuses to leave.
One guy I knew used to count cracks on the wall just for something–anything–to do! He chuckled bitterly when we chatted over coffee shortly after his release. “I named them,” I replied.
Even in these dark corners, humor can be found! Inmates can play jokes on one another or even share jokes in the toilet (yes, really! ).
Let’s not be silly. The psychological impact of the war is a serious matter.
Behind bars, depression is a constant reminder of the freedoms and opportunities you’ve missed.
The fear of the unknown creeps in too. They are afraid that everything will have changed since they left. Friends may have moved or died; technology has advanced beyond recognition. A whole new game awaits.
PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress disorder, is a terrible condition that affects many ex-convicts even after their sentences are over.
“I’m still scared of being locked up,” said another ex-prisoner in our conversation at the halfway house where he lives …”
Many people struggle alone because of budget cuts and other reasons.
Not everyone has family members waiting outside the prison walls to support them… but those who have such networks often do better mentally after release.
Remember that prison is more than metal bars and orange jumpsuits. It’s a daily battle within the minds of those who are locked inside.
Do not judge someone who has served their time. They have endured an ordeal that most of us can’t imagine.
That’s all I have to say today. Keep smiling & being kind