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I’ve been staring at the screen for a while, but I wonder if anything has to be said in regards to healing.  We should all know that people need time to recover, including in fiction.  You don’t just bounce back after receiving damage.  Definitely learned that one personally last year.  So, what should be said?

Honestly, the only thing I can think of is that there are people out there who don’t let others heal.  In regards to physical injuries, they will wait until you appear functional or show the earliest signs of recovery.  Then, they start making demands.  Others won’t even wait that long and never stop with their stress-inducing manipulations.  It’s worse for mental injuries because these types won’t acknowledge that you’re suffering.  Yet, they’ll milk their own mental issues without hesitation.

I guess my point is to be the opposite of that.  Be caring if you sense that a relative, friend, or anyone in your circles is suffering.  Maybe a casual ‘are you okay?’ or helping in small ways when possible.  The person might not want others to know what they’re going through, but you can still show basic human kindness.  I’m glad I know more people who fall into this category than the previous one.

To connect this to fiction, you should have your heroes do the same.  Even a villain might be like this when one of their allies is sick or injured.  As long as it’s somewhat in their nature, it works.

Healing takes time.  Something as minor as a papercut doesn’t disappear in seconds.  So, a broken bone, virus, bacterial infection, depression, anxiety, grief, and everything else won’t vanish quickly either.  Give people the time they need and the positive energy, which can speed up the process.  Having doctors who joked around, smiled, and made me feel comfortable did more than I realized at the time last year.  Friends texting to chat and visiting me in the hospital too.  Just keep all of this in mind.