Mental illnesses

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Mental illnesses
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MikeNY

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I have studied mental illnesses, psychology, and sociology to a moderate to extensive degree. It appears that there is not a person on the planet who doesn't fall into at least one category or label of mental illness. Everybody usually falls into more than one. Context is at the core to everything in psychology. Where something is placed in relationship to other things. Anyway, where I was going with this is that I spent some time thinking about the fact that everybody has some form of mental illness and that it is just a question of how severe or to what degree they exist within them, and why. I have known for a long time that there is no such thing as a person who is without any of them. That person is what people have grown to believe is "normal". In that context, a "normal" person does not exist. It is scientifically impossible based upon the guidelines. Psychology, is a science, and as a science, it attempts to be all encompassing. It tries to cover every possibility. I have come to believe that a "normal" person is not someone who is without mental illnesses, but rather someone who has a properly distributed balance of all mental illnesses. Or, maybe I'm just thinking outside of the box again. lol.
 
Here is my penny's worth.

I think being normal is what is the current thinking around the norm. And that changes from generation to generation. We do like to categorize everything. So what is it to be normal. God knows cause I do not. Again norm can have very different connotations depending on the culture or environment. What about the so-called abnormal or someone crazy thought person who is autistic. Lets give him/her a label. And yet to that person the autism is normal and the rest are disturbed. So here is the crux to me. It is all based on perception and much of that perception is from others and we tend to allow ourselves to be pigeon holed. For years I was a male prostitute and acted out. Certainly outside the norm. Those actions helped to keep me alive and were normal for me in an abnormal world.

Now the difference I think for me is that I know that I am not normal. Therefore I must be crazy. So be it. At least I have the advantage of knowing I am crazy and have no fantasy about being normal. I do not think I would want to be normal. Happy yes Normal no. I like to think I am like Tigger in Whinnie the Pooh. I'me unique and the only one like me.

Now you all know how crazy I am. :D
 
Here is my (context) penny's worth.

I think being normal is what is the current thinking around the norm (social context). And that changes from generation to generation(social context). We do like to categorize everything. So what is it to be normal. God knows cause I do not. Again norm can have very different connotations depending on the culture(social context) or environment (physical context). What about the so-called abnormal or someone crazy thought person who is autistic. (context: Remember, Einstein, Freud, and countless others would be labeled as abnormal. Abnormal is completely context related). Lets give him/her a label. And yet to that person the autism is normal and the rest are disturbed (context again). So here is the crux to me. It is all based on perception (perception is context related)and much of that perception is from others (this is the perception of other's projections) and we tend to allow ourselves to be pigeon holed. For years I was a male prostitute and acted out. Certainly outside the norm (context: whose norm?). Those actions helped to keep me alive and were normal for me in an abnormal world.

Now the difference I think for me is that I know that I am not normal(context). Therefore I must be crazy(or an individual). So be it. At least I have the advantage of knowing I am crazy and have no fantasy about being normal(context: normal is a relative term). I do not think I would want to be normal(social context). Happy yes Normal no. I like to think I am like Tigger in Whinnie the Pooh. I'me unique and the only one like me.

Now you all know how crazy I am.


This is part of what I am talking about. Don't let any of the labels bother any of you.
 
Mike, hey, but you are normal, as normal as you're life conditioned you to be.

I for years thought of myself being abnormal, I don't anymore. Different? Yes I am different, I am different from a lot of people, but I make it work for me.

If I look at the behaviour of some of the people we call normal in society, then, thank you God, for not letting me find a normal life.

Mike, you are not crazy, nor are any of us in here, we are probably some of the deepest, caring thinkers in society.

But that is not normal these days!

can't win,

ste
 
Normal is a trem which is reltaive in relation to the average, or the lowest common denominator in society. It is complete smoke and mirrors. It is a falacy, a childrens tale, etc. Our society preaches individuality at the same time that it promotes a social norm. This is a classic Freudian conflict. Normal, like most other things, is completely context related and falls somewhere in between the extremes.

(just one opinion)
 
Mike
the outside of your box makes a lot of sense!

Dave
 
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Would you mind telling me, who's brain I did put in?

Igor: And, you won't be angry?

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: I will not be angry.

Igor: Abby-someone.

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Abby-someone. Abby who?

Igor: Abby-normal.
 
Yes Mike, I too am glad that I am not "normal". I am proud to be different. I am proud to be an individual. Happiness is context related too. You have the option to place yourself there. It all depends on where you put yourself and what angle you look at things from.
 
It appears that normal = average (possibly in a mundane sense)... who wants to be average / nice / lovely (could do super smashing).

Sorry British Humour.

Last night I was involved in a conversation about multiple personalities & everyone else seemed to think that they only had one - I believe that we all have several ...or at least there are varying aspects to our character that change in accordance with how tired we are, how our day goes, whether or not we have eaten/drunk enough of the right/wrong things.

Does this make us mad??? I just call it 'more complex than average'.

Best wishes...Rik
 
I probably have a different personality for each day of the week, but as long as we all agree, we get on so well with each other.

Sometimes there is conflict, within me, or with others around me, but maybe another personality just sorts it out.

It works, and people like me for who I am, they know I've been abused, but they like me. As long as they don't feel sorry for me, I am OK, just understand me. That's all I want.

take care,

ste
 
Ste
I probably have a different personality for each day of the week, but as long as we all agree, we get on so well with each other.
Click to expand...
I'm lucky enough to work with my best friend, I've known him for about 35 years and we've worked together for 26 of them. We understand each other and have no secrets.

On Tuesday I climbed into the drivers seat of the van and Paul sat alongside me and off we went. 20 min's later I'd barely said a word, and he said "having a quiet day today then?" "yes, but it's no great problem" I told him.
So he turned the radio on and we carried on.

Normally we don't shut up at all, but we've both had hard times and know that some days all we want is peace and quiet.
The art is, knowing and living with our different personalities and moods.

Dave
 
Dave,

is it not the greatest friendship in the World, when someone just accepts you because they know what you go through, and never question you.

They accept you. They know the silence, they know just how to make you feel, so good, pushing all the right buttons to make friendship seem so good.

They are real friends for life,

ste
 
ste
Oh yes!!

Dave :D
 
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