The Stockholm Syndrome !!

A bank has been robbed. The criminal has taken a girl as a hostage. The hostage taker is very powerful. The abducted girl is battered, exhausted and beaten up both mentally and physically. She feels that to still keep hoping for a release is like fighting a lost battle. She is emotionally feeling so weak. After a week of ordeal, a deal is made and she is going to be released. But she refuses to leave. She feels loyal towards her hostage taker. She has fallen in love with her captor !!

The victim is emotionally so weak that there is a need for an emotional dependance. There is a need for some strength. The only source available, is her captor. There begins the affinity. This particular syndrome that features in the behavior of some victims is called the Stockholm Syndrome. Many of us would think that this is absolute madness !! Height of craziness !! This is not possible at all !! But the reality is, it is !! It happens to all fo us. But we do not acknowledge it. All of us are victims. We can not deny that !

Victims !! The first thing that strikes us when we hear this word is that, it is depressing. We feel like outrightly denying the claim at once. Because we are weak. Most of us feel that ignorance and conscious indifference is a trait of strength. But the reality is otherwise. Acknowledging the fact and accepting it, is the true trait of strength !! We are victimised daily by a number of issues. Betrayal, disappointment, unfulfilled desires, etc, etc. It keeps haunting people. It makes them the hostage. The issues play the role of the captor and finally we inherit the Stockholm Syndrome by becoming loyal to the issue !! This, the emotional dependance of the person over the issue bothering him, I think is madness !!

We find so many opportunities that come our way to help us get out the hostage situation. For an example, when we are plugged on to an ipod, we find ourslves in a world which is filled with soothing music. Music which is audible only to us. Feels like bliss !! or when we run,run and run, pushing ourselves to our limits to vent out our frustration, we feel so clean having burnt out all the unnecessary things. But what happens after those few moments?? We get back to the role of the loyal hostage !!

This is nothing but the need for emotional dependance. The need is not wrong. But the choice is ! Think how great it will be if we can be loyal to the good feelings. Like being happy, being optimistic, etc, etc. Why should we always go back to the golden question of "If only it had not been like this? ". Why do we find ourself being loyal to the wrong side??

Loyalty is not always a virtue !!