What is "Mental Illness"?
The short and obvious answer to the above question would be, "mental illness is any departure from mental health."
What then, is "mental health"? Let's look at some key definitions that will help us to answer this question.
mental:
1. of or pertaining to the mind.
2. performed by, or existing in, the mind.
3. pertaining to intellectuals or intellectual activity.
mind:
1. the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.
2. [Psychology] the totality of conscious and unconscious mental processes and activities.
heal(th):
[O.E. hælan "make whole, sound and well," from P.Gmc. *khailaz (cf. O.S. helian, O.N. heila, O.Fris. hela, Du. heelen, Ger. heilen), lit. "to make whole," which is also the source of O.E. hal (see health).]
health:
[O.E. hælþ "wholeness, a being whole, sound or well," from PIE *kailo- "whole, uninjured, of good omen" (cf. O.E. hal "hale, whole;" O.N. heill "healthy;" O.E. halig, O.N. helge "holy, sacred;" O.E. hælan "to heal")]
whole:
1. comprising the full quantity, amount, extent, number, etc., without diminution or exception; entire, full, or total: He ate the whole pie. They ran the whole distance.
2. containing all the elements properly belonging; complete: We have a whole set of antique china.
3. undivided; in one piece: to swallow a thing whole.
4. [Mathematics] integral, or not fractional.
5. not broken, damaged, or impaired; intact: Thankfully, the vase arrived whole.
6. uninjured or unharmed; sound: He was surprised to find himself whole after the crash.
7. pertaining to all aspects of human nature, esp. one's physical, intellectual, and spiritual development: education for the whole person.
From these definitions, we can conclude that "mental health" is a state or condition wherein a person is able to effectively reason his (or her) way through life and its challenges, to facilitate "optimum" survival for himself and his "symbionts".
In such a state, a person's actions would be more constructive and productive than destructive, and he would thus be more satisfied with his existence (because he is more satisfied with his results).
Because "mental health" is characterized by "right thinking", and "right thinking" is not possible without Truth; then "mental health" is not possible without the presence, understanding and acceptance of those Truths that are most relevant to one's Survival! The more "Truthful" a person's thinking, the greater the degree of his mental health.
What, then, is mental "illness"?
Let's consider the following definition:
ill(ness):
1. Not healthy; sick: I began to feel ill last week.
2. Not normal; unsound: an ill condition of body and mind.
3. Resulting in suffering; harmful or distressing: the ill effects of a misconceived policy.
4. a. Resulting from or suggestive of evil intentions: ill deeds committed out of spite.
b. Ascribing an objectionable quality: holds an ill view of that political group.
c. Hostile or unfriendly: ill feeling between rivals.
d. Harmful; pernicious: the ill effects of a misconceived policy.
5. Not favorable; unpropitious: ill predictions.
6. Not measuring up to recognized standards of excellence, as of behavior or conduct.
Therefore, mental "illness" is a state or condition wherein a person is unable to effectively reason his or her way through Life and its challenges.
In a state of mental "illness" (I prefer the term "aberration"), a person's efforts toward "survival" would be more DEstructive than CONstructive, and he would be less capable of producing desired results, and thus, would be less satisfied with his existence.
The reason I prefer the term "aberration" over the term "illness", in this case, is because the term "illness" tends to suggest a "medical" problem (dealing with the physical body) that needs to be handled with "instruments" and "medicines"; instead of a "mental" problem, which is
both caused and relieved, in most cases, by INFORMATION...and the
quality or Truthfulness of it.
Just as mental "health" is only possible with the presence of Truth, so mental "illness" (aberration) is only possible with the absence of Truth and/or the presence of "falsehood", or false data, in one's "survival computations". It is the result of having flawed "fundamental assumptions" about Life -- including Self -- and the Laws which govern it.
A person who has been diagnosed with a "mental illness", or a "mental disorder", will almost always (if not always) be found to have some "problem" in his or her life that he or she has not been able to solve, or resolve. This "inability" will inevitably produce a variety of negative effects, among them: disappointment, dissatisfaction, frustration, anger, antagonism, despair, depression, apathy, etc.
"Medicating" the person may suppress the symptoms, but there is no medication on the market that will solve the problem that lack of relevant information (Truth) caused. That is why there aren't any "one-dose/pill" prescriptions! The medication is not intended to "solve the problem". It is intended to suppress the symptoms of the problem.
Some may argue that suppression of symptoms is often necessary to "clear the way" to address the problem. That may be, in some cases. However, my question, in response to that notion...when it comes to MENTAL "illness", would be "How can a person who is 'high' on 'psyche drugs' effectively address anything?"
Ask people who are on "psyche meds" how they feel about their ability to focus and reason while under the influence of "medication". Many of them are miserable, and complain of feelings of "imprisonment" in their own minds. Some of them commit suicide. (Please watch this video)
Drugging a person who has a problem does not solve the problem. It does not increase the person's intelligence. It does not deepen the person's insights, or enhance his wisdom. It only suppresses symptoms, and leaves the problem unsolved.
If the problem or disorder is the result of the absence of Truth, then the solution to the problem/disorder must include the presence and/or discovery of those Truths that will shed much needed Light on the problem.
Truth is the answer. Truth is the remedy! Truth is the Solution to the problem of mental "illness", if such "illness" can be spotted and handled in time.
The Bible says, "My people are destroyed for the lack of Knowledge." If that is true, then the people can only be restored by the presence of Knowledge (Truth).
"Let this mind be in you; the same that was in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 2:5
"Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." -Romans 12:2
This is only possible...with Truth...and the willingness to Confront the Truth.
Be Blessed!
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