What is Mental Illness?

Mental illness has always carried a stigma. People wounded in battle may be regaled as heroes, but soldiers who lose their minds on the battlefield may be hidden from society. In past generations, people who were judged "insane" were often locked away in virtual prisons where they were subjected to what can only be described as torture.

Part of this stigma derives from the importance of the human mind. People missing limbs can still function in society, as can people with heart problems. But an incapacitated mind equals an incapacitated individual. Helen Keller would never have become famous if she was insane, rather than deaf, blind and dumb.

Another factor is the complexity of the human brain. Heck, even a laboratory rat’s brain is complex compared to the human heart. Thus, the general public’s perception of mental illness is influenced by fear of the unknown.

Yet everyone suffers mental pain at one time or another, and there’s a fine line that separates us all from insanity. A spurned lover, a violent crime, a battlefield trauma, years of stress in the classroom - all of these can lead to mental health problems. And if the stress is too severe or prolonged, some people simply snap.

To put it in perspective, let’s compare the mind to your arm. If you cut your arm, it will bleed. That’s perfectly normal. Of course, bleeding isn’t normal, but it is normal to bleed if you’ve been cut. In fact, it would be abnormal to NOT bleed if your arm has been cut.

Similarly, mental pain is the obvious result of mental "injury." If a loved one dies, it would be abnormal to NOT feel depressed. Some of the most severely disturbed people among us have suffered horrendous tragedies that simply warped their minds.

Of course, mental illness can also be caused by medical or environmental problems. People can be born mentally impaired. Their behavior may thus be abnormal, but it’s perfectly normal for people with their particular background.

Another thing that puts it all in perspective is love. After all, people do some of the strangest - and often tragic - things when under Cupid’s spell. These people might be labled nuts...if they weren’t in love. One might argue that falling in love is flirting with insanity.

On the positve side, most people survive love and failied romances, and suffering a broken heart - or any kind of trauma - often makes us stronger. This is something that makes the mental health field very special. People with serious cuts, burns or broken bones can often be returned to normal. But mental suffering can actually make people "better." People who have suffered mentally or emotionally often emerge stronger and more compassionate.