The honest answer is we don't think about it. We seriously evade reminiscing or dwelling on life outside the prison bars. The fact of the matter is, this is our lives. While some live in squalor or mud huts, in foreign lands, we live here. We cope by siloing our existences to prison life (which, honest to be told, is full time sport itself requiring our full time attention all the politics, violence, and indifference, amongst other thing, causes us to be imminently present in our prison journey). We also have limited contact with the outside world. Only a handful of loved ones will endure the burden of an incarcerated family member, friend, or mate. This is largely due to two things: (1) State extraction of their funds for everything (i.e. communicating, commissary, property items, etc.), and (2) the evilness of slavery, without financial autonomy prisoners are essentially beggards which strips them of independence and dehumanizes them, and causes loved ones or friends to grow weary of them. This is the truth of the matter. We all just exist because this is our lives. Under the force and coercion of the State and it's policies we can hardly focus on anything but surviving and holding onto a few loved ones through the pain and hardships. I hope this answers your question. It isn't especially philosophical. But it is honest. I hope you have a great week! For simply asking this question I know you are a good person with a good heart! May you prosper and enjoy life! For you have a gift that many in our Country don't: Freedom. Please feel free to ask questions whenever you like! This is your community and we welcome you! Thank you again!
How do you mentally handle long-term incarceration?