Imagine being trapped in a tiny, dark room. The walls close and the time sluggishly moves on a lazy sunday. Many inmates describe their experience of life in prison as a cell. It’s not only about being physically locked in; it’s also the mental maze, how big are prison cells?
Imagine waking up to the same dull ceiling every day, the same cold mattress, and the same eerie quiet. There’s no sunrise, and there are no birds outside to welcome you. A monotonous loop that never ends. Your mind begins to play tricks on you. To keep yourself sane you may start to talk to yourself or create imaginary friends.
Former inmates I spoke to described it as living 24/7 inside their own heads. “You can’t run from your thoughts,” said he, his eyes widening with memories that he’d prefer to forget. “They haunted you.”
Isolation has a funny effect on people. You’ve probably heard of “cabin fever”. Add hopelessness and a ten-fold increase in the intensity of that feeling. You’re in solitary.
Humans by nature are social beings. Interaction, laughter, and sometimes even arguments, are what we thrive on. If you remove that, it leaves a hole that is hard to fill. Many prisoners say they feel invisible, like they have been erased.
Without stimulation, your mind will start to degenerate. For some, reading becomes a way to escape the grim reality of their lives.
What happens then, when you have nothing more to read? Boredom can be like an unwanted guest who won’t leave.
One guy I knew used to count cracks on the wall just for something–anything–to do! He said bitterly, “I named the cracks,” during our coffee chat after his release.
There’s humor in even these dark corners! For example, inmates will play pranks or jokes with each other through the toilet pipes. ).
It’s time to get serious: the psychological impact is not something to laugh at.
The prison walls are a place where depression can be very heavy. A dark cloud looms overhead, reminding you constantly of your lost freedom and missed chances.
It’s not just the fear that creeps up. The anxiety of returning to a society where things have changed. Their friends may have left or passed away. Technology has evolved beyond recognition.
PTSD (Post Traumatic stress disorder) is another nasty condition that can affect many ex-convicts after their sentences have ended.
“Every loud sound makes me jump,” admitted another former prisoner during our discussion at his halfway-house accommodation …”I sometimes dream about being locked away.”
Due to budget cuts, counseling is not always available. Many struggle on their own.
Although not everyone has a network of family members who are waiting for them outside the prison, those who do tend to be better off mentally when released compared to others without one.
The next time you hear someone casually mention prison life, remember that it’s not just metal bars & orange jumpsuits…it’s the daily battle waged within the mind trapped inside four walls.
You should think twice before you judge someone for having served time. These people have been through hell that we can’t even imagine.
This is my two cents for today. Keep smiling and being kind