This is a final farewell to the Millennial Spark Blog Series on Max Mayfield… If you’re new to the series, please read part one: Marked By Trauma
The show Stranger Things addresses many social issues. Among them was addressing the fight against mental illness. We were introduced to Max at the beginning of season two, when she moved from California to Hawkins, Indiana. She followed her mother to live with her physically abusive stepfather and stepbrother.
At the end of season three, Max watched the gruesome death of her stepbrother, Billy. She was then targeted as the next subject to be murdered. She was made a victim in which death was inevitable. This threat to life wasn’t due to an external danger. Rather, it was a battle within the mind. It’s a fight of one’s deep emotions. It’s a symbolic story that externalizes the struggles of mental illness. In this case, we observe this struggle with Max.
The first time Max was forced to enter the “dreaded trance” was meant to be negative. The first time Max faced Vecna was meant to be symbolism for fighting against suicidal ideation and depression. But the second time was symbolized as something different. It was an act of courage. Max put her life at risk so that her friends would have the opportunity to kill Vecna. Vecna would be vulnerable as he put all his focus on killing Max. It was Max’s confession that symbolized confessing our ugly truths to find healing. She escaped the first dilemma, yet was unable to escape the second. Season four ended with Max’s unexpected death. The emotional investment of the entire show was now dead.
It was rumored before the start of season five that Vecna would target one other child – an eight-year-old girl named Holly Wheeler. The rumors were in-fact true. Holly was kidnapped and taken to Vecna’s lair after the near-death of her parents. And while Holly remained sedated in Vecna’s lair, she would be imprisoned in Vecna’s trance. Vecna’s strategy differed from his approach to Max in that Holly wasn’t kept in a frightening place. It was the opposite. Vecna needed her alive. So, he placed Holly in a place of ignorant bliss. This kept Holly preoccupied. Nevertheless, Holly’s life was still at stake.
Holly would have remained imprisoned if she hadn’t had help. Yet, Holly had a secret weapon that none of the previous victims had: Maxine Mayfield. Max was alive and had found a way to elude Vecna’s attention. She did so in order to survive her dilemma. Holly (the eight-year-old girl) was shocked and suspicious when she first discovered Max. Nonetheless, she would eventually trust Max. Holly learned of Vecna’s trance and the fact that she was in danger. They both agreed to escape together. Holly didn’t stand a chance alone, but Max would use her painful experiences to keep Holly safe. Thus, the phrase is true: Our pain always has purpose.
The mind has its own way of dealing with trauma. In some cases, the body will “pretend” that the trauma never occurred. The key to healing from mental health trauma is to revisit and reprocess those memories. Recognize and resolve. Not avoid. Of course, it’s easier said than done. Attempting to identify and resolve forgotten traumatic memories is rather impossible when alone. After all, you’re trying to process memories that you’ve already forgotten.
The perfect metaphor of this is of traveling a maze while blindfolded: You don’t know where you are. You don’t know where you’re going. All you know is that your life hangs in the balance. Not finding an escape is equivalent to a death sentence. Thus, Max faced certain death.
Max’s situation is similar to that of processing trauma. She remains stuck in a trance. And the only way of escape is to walk through such a maze of forgotten traumas… Holly walks with her. As they travel through this “maze of traumas,” Holly freezes and claims that she can hear screams. It’s a memory of Holly’s mother as Holly is dragged away and kidnapped. Max takes notice, and responds with a helpful bit of advice…
“Scared? You’re close to the final memory… You might start to feel things. Some things you felt that night. I know I did… But it’s just like an echo. It’s a good sign. It means you’re almost home.”
This was Max referencing her own traumas as she was forced to re-experience the death of herself and her stepbrother. It’s of great importance that such is dealt with in a controlled, therapeutic environment. If not, the experience could be re-traumatizing.
One of the most effective ways to process trauma is through both exposure therapy and EMDR. My own experience with exposure therapy and EMDR led to an intensity of mental health symptoms. This can include intense nightmares and hearing voices. I experienced recurring nightmares in my case. One nightmare was of a person having a seizure while covered in blood. The person was indistinguishable until I moved closer. A second involved a five-story structural fire. I could see the people in great detail as they looked for an escape. The building collapsed in the end… This would lead me in my attempt to avoid sleep. Such continued for weeks until my body started to process the trauma. Among the scariest of symptoms was that of hearing the voices of people who weren’t there. In my case, the voices conspired to hurt me. The best solution at the moment was to sleep. The voices were gone once I woke up. The nightmares and voices would recur until my worst memories were processed. I’m stronger today for taking such a journey.
Max and Holly continue to find an escape. An unanticipated moment arises when Max sees an opportunity to free herself. She then realizes a harsh lesson of mentorship: You can’t finish a journey for someone else. This especially applies in our faith. We can share the message of Christ with others. It’s their choice to accept or deny salvation…
“You have to find your own way… Music isn’t the only way back. You just need something that connects you to the real world. To home. Something powerful. Meaningful. You just need something that’s special to you. Something that makes you feel safe… Something that brings you strength. Something that gives you hope…”
One of the most difficult tasks one can undertake is that of abandoning external indulgence and embracing internal indulgence. Let me explain: It’s easy to get caught up relying on materialism. It’s *supposedly* easy to be happy when you’re rich, own a good car, own a good house, etc. It’s *supposedly* easy to be happy when you’re famous and publicly praised. It’s *supposedly* easy to be happy when you have a good job, a loving family, good friends, on and on… But what if you don’t have that? What if you’re alone, poor, and forgotten? This is the monumental challenge of fighting mental illness. There is no peace. There is only confusion and chaos. Let me say this: People don’t end their lives because they don’t own a car, own a house, are not publicly known, or perhaps even unmarried. They do so because of a deep, deep internal pain that goes beyond external influences. The *emotional lightning* of music is a powerful way to find emotional strength. It’s beautiful to listen to songs about how Christ loves and adores you and me. With that said, there are other ways… Find purpose in your faith. Find a way to turn your curse into a blessing. Find out what you believe in… These are the motivators that inspire reliable strength. A purpose declared to us by God…
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
~ Deuteronomy 31:8
She was marked. She was haunted. She was destined to die. Her darkest moments in Stranger Things reflect the all-too-familiar reality of pain, despair, and the lies that entangle us. We walk along with Max in her greatest of trials: To witness the gruesome death of her brother. To hear the voice that gaslights her mind. To behold the dreading moment she levitates into death itself. This blog series shows what the worst of our inner struggles look like when it’s given a face.
Indeed, the show called Stranger Things was never intended as a symbolic Christian story. The writers never intended for Max’s journey to be associated with any particular faith. Nevertheless, those of us who have watched Max’s journey have witnessed what it looks like to turn a curse into a blessing. You may be one who is in a dark and terrifying place in life. Perhaps it seems as if your death is inevitable. No one sees your struggle. No one feels your pain.
But I have good news: It was two thousand years ago that a man named Jesus Christ dwelt among us. He was marked by Satan as the perfect target. He was ostracized by the very people He came to save. He was destined to die in a gruesome manner. He was condemned. He was mocked. He was buried. Nevertheless, Christ continued His journey. It’s through His suffering that you and I have hope in our future. Christ changed His curse into our blessing. And He asks the same from us. May we take our curses and make them as blessings to love others around us – not by our power, but by God’s power.
The full lesson is this: We’re not too broken to be saved. We’re not too lost to be found. God has never abandoned you. Nor has He declared your story is over. But with faith, seeking help, and a willingness to endure pain, we too can change our curse into a blessing.
Max is safe and stronger than ever. Let us conclude the story of Maxine Mayfield…
“Video clips has been shortened to include only the footage relevant to the commentary. Used under Fair Use for analysis and commentary.”