Isn't everyone mentally ill to some degree

[gustavofring]

If you look at all the disorders, from narcissism and anti-social disorder to AVP and social anxiety, I'm sure most people would have some of those traits.

In some echelons of society it would even be beneficial to have some of these disorders (zero empathy, even OCD or paranoia).

It's just that when someone is succesful within a field and makes money we overlook that. So I believe there is a lot of labelling done that is subject to socio-economic viability.

Interesting video:
Allen J. Frances on the overdiagnosis of mental illness - YouTube

 

[WeirdyMcGee]

Yes.

I have thought of this before...
And the idea of 'mental illness increasing over the past 50 years' sounds ridiculous to me because it's ALOT more diagnosed now than it ever was before.

If you were depressed in the past- you were just a sad person; that was the way you were.
If you were agoraphobic- you were shy and eccentric.
Now we have terms for everything and everyone can be grouped into different categories and classified as this and that.

 

[jc972]

I often wonder who's to say who is and isn't ''normal''. I can trace OCD and other social phobias to at least 3 generations before me, quite possibly more. I do not think it's anything new at all. I think 90% of the worlds population is mentally ill to an extent, quite possibly more.

 

[Srijita52]

Yes.

I have thought of this before...
And the idea of 'mental illness increasing over the past 50 years' sounds ridiculous to me because it's ALOT more diagnosed now than it ever was before.

If you were depressed in the past- you were just a sad person; that was the way you were.
If you were agoraphobic- you were shy and eccentric.
Now we have terms for everything and everyone can be grouped into different categories and classified as this and that.

I agree. I guess everyone has traits of various disorders to some degree but maybe they can be considered illness when they start to effect our everyday life.

 

[gustavofring]

I guess everyone has traits of various disorders to some degree but maybe they can be considered illness when they start to effect our everyday life.

But who is to say everyone can simply adapt to what society calls "everyday life"?

What if some mental illnesses are simply a sign of an evolutionairy transitional state? Maybe many people's brains aren't acostumed to sitting behind a desk all day and many other jobs that require something from us that we aren't really naturally inclined to do? Modern society has only come to be the way it is in a couple of hundred years. What if things like social anxiety are naturally inherited phenomena that have a function going back to Hunter/Gatherer society.

I'm probably thinking too deep about this. I just lately have a bit of a distrust towards the industry of psychology and what society deems as an "illness".

 

[gustavofring]

Not to say mental illnesses aren't things that can obscure a healthy life, and shouldn't be treated, it's just that I'm sick of the whole labeling and judging thing in psychology because there's a lot of vague assumptions in that field that are subject to contemporary society and whatever is the dominant way of thinking. It's almost a pseudo-science.

 

[EscapeArtist]

Yes exactly, that's the reason why mental illness is shameful to the general population. It wouldn't be shameful to anybody who is not ashamed of themselves for the same reason.

I remember hearing from a documentary or something, that "social anxiety" the term was only created to sell prescription drugs for its purpose.

 

[Srijita52]

But who is to say everyone can simply adapt to what society calls "everyday life"?

What if some mental illnesses are simply a sign of an evolutionairy transitional state? Maybe many people's brains aren't acostumed to sitting behind a desk all day and many other jobs that require something from us that we aren't really naturally inclined to do? Modern society has only come to be the way it is in a couple of hundred years. What if things like social anxiety are naturally inherited phenomena that have a function going back to Hunter/Gatherer society.

I'm probably thinking too deep about this. I just lately have a bit of a distrust towards the industry of psychology and what society deems as an "illness".

Hmm I'm not too sure, but when I said affecting everyday life, I meant if you're satisfied with the way you are. I don't like the idea of sitting behind a desk too, everyone has different standards and expectations but too much anxiety is something which bothers me personally, so for me its a 'problem' but if someone is still able to be satisfied regardless, it shouldn't be an illness for them. I'm probably not making any sense now.

 

[gustavofring]

Yeah you do make sense. I feel that way too.

Everyone should define for themselves wether they're happy and well. But I do think psychology creates a lot of stigma and labelling and that this can be harmful.

 

[Rembrandt Broam]

Yes, and this is why I don't see my SA as an "illness" and is also related to why I am very mistrustful of psychiatry in general.

When you have a physical illness, it's a binary thing. You either have it or you don't, and if you do have it then it will usually manifest in a very specific and clearly identifiable way. But a mental illness isn't like that. You don't catch it like a cold. It's a combination (IMO) of your genetics, and your life experiences, both of which are totally unique to you. There is no one out there who has some perfect, baseline mental state, so I would agree that everyone is "mentally ill" to some degree. We only start calling it a mental illness when it starts to have a major effect on someone's ability to function in everyday life.

 

[CrazyGirl]

Someone once told me EvERYONE is mentally challenged in some way. It was meant that everyone is different and shouldn't be judged

 

[Minty]

Well, if I'm not mentally ill per se (because everyone is) I still need to change myself in order to function in society. Society isn't going to change any time soon and let people like me be successful, so I have to change. Because I don't want to live on the streets.

What new term would you use to define a person who needs to change the way they mentally operate in order to thrive in their environment?

 

[psych]

Not new, but... adaptive

& Yes, we are all uniquely screwed up. Some more than others. I totally agree with that.

 

[Richey]

i think so, only some people are more functional at work or in terms of progressing, same in education, fitness, spiritually. all those things. Perhaps that's more an ADD issue.

i like it when i see people not making sense or just being generally silly because you see so many adults resisting that, you see alot of overly serious and uptight married couples, singles, so i think when you see adults and they are fun then its sort of refreshing and almost rare. Look at Dave Grohl, the guy is the essence of what it should be like as an adult, be a little nutty, silly, work at your strengths, embrace your hobbies and make it a business if possible. He is wacky in a positive way.

Sit on a train in the mornings, look at the hundreds of thousands of people in business suits, looking as miserable as can be, is that the sort of life, attitude, etc that you want to see? Too many people are products of mainstream society.

here is a metaphor. 2 bands. The first band are strictly about playing chords and notes to 100% precision, but very rigidly, nobody seems to be enjoying the experience but its somewhat rewarding but perhaps a little boring.

the second band are tired of that and just let go of their hang ups, they start to be unconventional and play messy chords, are spontanious and random fretting up and down the neck of the guitar, they stop making sense, but maybe that's how bands like sonic youth and the pumpkins get some of their expansive sound, by not being traditional and instead go a little nutty with their practicing. Play a 1 hour jam and "play whatever comes to your head".

its like the video games argument. You hear adults saying that you must be too old to play video games, to wear certain clothes. There is almost this weird expectation that once you hit 25 you must turn into a boring prude, why? i know some 40 year olds who are very down to earth, like video games, go to concerts, they hold onto their youth. its fine.

then you see people over 30 who are just so rigid and conformist, but to what? to being very conservative/cliched, caring what others think way too much, even the way they speak is so "holier then thou" and arrogant but without the humour.

i'm sick of it.

my advice, be wacky, say silly things, don't make sense, keep your hobbies, just let go. but do it in a positive way.

 

[gustavofring]

Excellent post Richey.

Dave Grohl's music isn't really my style but I do admire his attitude towards life. More people should take a hint at that. Be yourself, be creative, don't make yourself into something you're not just to fit in.

 

[Flowers-Of-Bloom]

No one has perfect mental health, everyone has some kind of problem, but it's only a disorder (or an 'illness') when it interferes greatly with your life in the long term and the short term.

 

[Richey]

Excellent post Richey.

Dave Grohl's music isn't really my style but I do admire his attitude towards life. More people should take a hint at that. Be yourself, be creative, don't make yourself into something you're not just to fit in.

Oh i agree, i haven't been into the foo's since the late 90s, but i just think Dave represents what "letting your guard down" is all about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfVmTn9blPI

 

[KiaKaha]

When the DSM was first published it had only a few dozen mental disorders. Now in the latest edition there are hundreds. Which makes me wonder - who gets to decide what is considered a mental illness? What is the criteria for a characteristic to become a mental illness? Wasnt homosexuality considered an illness back in the day? Interesting how societies attitudes change to conform to our levels of tolerance.

I actually saw a documentary once about how psychiatric professionals acknowledged that there was no evidence for mental illness, I actually disagree with that - but it was interesting seeing that point of view anyway.

I have more to say on this topic, but not right now. Too late.

 

[bleach]

No one has perfect mental health, everyone has some kind of problem, but it's only a disorder (or an 'illness') when it interferes greatly with your life in the long term and the short term.

exactly, I don't understand why this concept is so confusing to people. yes mental illnesses are more conceptual than physical illnesses, there is not an exact delneation to say someone is 'sick' or 'well', it is somewhat subjective. however, a person who s ruining their life with social phobia is not suddenly going to have no problems because he convinces himself that mental illness is universal or does not exist. you are all here because you are unhappy with a specific aspect of your life, if psychology did not exist you would still not be happy as a socially awkward and alienated person, but psychology gives you a way to address the problem. you may have aspects of other illnesses as well, but not severely enough for them to damage your life, so you do not have those illnesses.