Why did I get a sinking feeling in my gut, and only feel pity?

1. 2019-03-26 at 11:12 PM UTC

   #41
   We'reAllBrownNosers African Astronaut

   Originally posted by -SpectraL It's because they fully believe these people don't want to help themselves, they fully believe they're too far gone to cure, and they fully believe it's not their job to treat people who should be in an involuntary addition center.

   
   They're kind of right. Although I disagree with these "do not resuscitate" lists, they do exist. They'll put you on one just for smoking cigarettes.
2. 2019-03-26 at 11:25 PM UTC

   #42
   The Self Taught Man Black Hole

   Originally posted by Siouxsie_Q But don't give up, because there is a higher power just waiting to hear from you if you find yourself in this situation.

   
   Hehehehehehehehehe
3. 2019-03-26 at 11:41 PM UTC

   #43
   

   gadzooks Dark Matter [keratinize my mild-tasting blossoming]

   Originally posted by Technologist We had a heroin addict come in the other day for treatment on her abscesses, (puss filled pockets in the skin, due to shooting up). She was covered in track marks everywhere. Said she’d been addicted for 10 yrs.
   
   Here’s my question….
   Why did my coworkers think she was disgusting instead of feeling sympathy for her?

   
   There are a whole variety of possible factors, perhaps many of them interacting at once.
   
   First off, track marks, straight up, look gross. Luckily, they generally heal over time. If you took a look at my arms, you'd never be able to tell that I've had hundreds of needles in them. There is not a single bit of physical evidence anymore that I was ever an IV user.
   
   But, when they're there, they are gross, and that medical ick factor probably played a role. I've seen some absolute train wrecks of IV damage before... There was this one woman at a friend's place once who had this huge gaping abscess with a radius of like several inches.
   
   *shudders*
   
   I felt bad for her, but, reflexively and automatically, I was revolted by her.
   
   At the end of the day, they are self-inflicted injuries. Humans just have a natural tendency towards judging, even if on a subconscious level, people for self-inflicted injuries.
   
   Also, though, maybe they're just ignorant jerks who think they're better than the patient and that the patient was weak while they are strong. So you will definitely witness some contempt, which looks a lot like disgust.
4. 2019-03-26 at 11:42 PM UTC

   #44
   

   -SpectraL coward [the spuriously bluish-lilac bushman]

   Originally posted by We'reAllBrownNosers They're kind of right. Although I disagree with these "do not resuscitate" lists, they do exist. They'll put you on one just for smoking cigarettes.

   
   Another big part of it is guilt. Guilt that, ultimately, they can do nothing to really help them. Like watching a person who's been run over by a dump truck and the whole middle section of their body and both their legs are crushed down to two or three inches and stuck to the road in a long smear of blood, with their guts all hanging out, but they're still scrabbling for purchase; you want to run over and help them, but then you just have look away.
5. 2019-03-26 at 11:43 PM UTC

   #45
   Erekshun Naturally Camouflaged
   I watched a dude shoot up and I was supposed to be next. When I saw that shit I got the fuck out of there. No thanks!
6. 2019-03-26 at 11:44 PM UTC

   #46
   

   gadzooks Dark Matter [keratinize my mild-tasting blossoming]

   Originally posted by WellHung Also… unless you've done heroin yourself.. you can't have empathy for her… only sympathy.

   
   For some reason I'm always impressed when someone else actually understands the difference between the two. It's rare to see that.
   
   But, that being said, it can definitely come off as a bit nitpicky/pedantic.
7. 2019-03-26 at 11:46 PM UTC

   #47
   

   gadzooks Dark Matter [keratinize my mild-tasting blossoming]
   And also, you can have empathy via abstraction/analogy...
   
   Like, I would accept someone with a serious eating disorder (like anorexia nervosa, for example) claiming to empathize with my earlier existing heroin addiction.
8. 2019-03-26 at 11:50 PM UTC

   #48
   

   Technologist victim of incest

   Originally posted by gadzooks Also, though, maybe they're just ignorant jerks who think they're better than the patient and that the patient was weak while they are strong. So you will definitely witness some contempt, which looks a lot like disgust.

   
   
   The inkling I got^^
   
   
   Track marks are nothing to a medical person. I’ve seen thousands, and the abcess covered arms as well.
   I worked in a very seedy section of town for a time. Saw it daily.