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How the Mechanisms of Mental Ill-Health Works

The behavior of the mentally ill patient is not qualitatively different from that of healthy persons or from his own behavior before his illness developed. In fact, the behavior and the thinking of the mentally ill are strange only because they are exaggerated or inappropriate to particular situations. Moreover, when the history of a mental patient is carefully studied, it is found that his illness is the logical and inevitable outgrowth of his experiences and his interpretation of those experiences.

The illness then presents itself as the only way left for that particular individual to solve the problems which have arisen as the result of his interpretation of and reaction to his experiences. It is found, moreover, that the solution, that is, his mental illness, is not a new one but is an exaggeration of methods which he has used before and which everybody uses to greater or lesser degree. But because he uses these methods at the expense of more healthy and efficient ones, the patient accumulates dissatisfaction and poor equipment for handling this dissatisfaction.

This may be illustrated by the example of the chronic invalid who avoids uncomfortable duties or responsibilities, or acquires attention, by becoming ill. This simple procedure accounts for a large number of the so-called "neurotics" and "psycho-neurotics" who crowd the hospital clinics and the consulting rooms of physicians and who manage, quite unconsciously, to make the lives of their families and friends, as well as their own lives, unhappy.

Avoidance of Unpleasant Situations

A boy, aged ten, wakes one morning with a cold. He is not very sick but is kept in bed as a precautionary measure. During the course of the morning his condition improves. His mother lets him get up and play about the house and entertains him with stories and games. He is not in the habit of getting so much attention and he enjoys it. He particularly enjoys it at this time because he has been having difficulty at school. He is slightly nearsighted, but this defect has not been noticed. It makes it difficult for him to see what is written on the board.

For this and various other trivial reasons he is behind in his school work. He doesn't try hard to catch up because he feels hopeless about it. He makes small troubles in the classroom instead. The teacher doesn't like him, or at least he thinks that she doesn't, which amounts to the same thing.

After being out a day or so with his cold, he returns to the classroom even farther behind than he was. He is punished for inattention and making a nuisance of himself. Things go from bad to worse. Even on the playground he can find no satisfaction. He is small for his age; he has never acquired skill in the games that other boys play. He feels his inadequacy and allows himself to be bullied because he hasn't enough self-confidence to "stick up for his rights." Things go on like this for a week or two, getting steadily worse. Finally matters are about to reach a climax.

His teacher has given him a note to his mother about his bad conduct. The boy has destroyed the note. There is a new bully on the playground who promises to "beat him up" the next time he catches him. He manages to elude the bully on his way home that afternoon; he stays safely in his own backyard. But the next morning he no sooner wakes than he realizes the disagreeable situation. He dreads going to school and wishes he could stay at home. He remembers the last time he stayed at home; he was sick that time.

He asks himself if he is sick now. By the time he gets to breakfast he is really feeling unwell. He complains to his mother. He is not malingering, because by this time he really feels uneasy in his stomach. Remembering his illness of the week before, his mother is a little worried. She allows him to remain at home, intending to take him to see the doctor. But the boy has discovered a way of getting out of unpleasant things. It isn't a good way, and he gains nothing in the long run; in fact, he only makes matters worse. If the situation remains the same, he will get sick again and again until he becomes a chronic invalid.

But suppose his parents realize what he is doing and set about changing things in a rational way. His eye defect is correctable; he could be given special tutoring to catch up with his class or, if necessary, changed to another school where he could make a new start. His satisfaction in play could be improved if he were sent to a camp in the summer or were given instruction in sports. It usually is easy to correct the habit at this stage.

On the other hand, if this boy continues to be sick, he will keep on becoming sick in more critical situations all of his life, and when he gets to be an adult he will do it in the face of important situations. In this case he will become a chronic invalid and be diagnosed by one physician after another as a neurotic, a psycho-neurotic, or a hysteric.

Parental Domination

Adolescence gives rise to an increasing urge for independence and personal responsibility on the part of all normal children. Parents should prepare themselves and their children for this by the development of an attitude of mutual helpfulness and respect. If this is not done, as occurs all too frequently, conflicts arise as a result of the efforts of parents to continue their domination and the struggle of their children for independence.

When this occurs, warping of the child's personality is likely to result either rebellion or submission is unfortunate. Rebellion, without self-discipline and training in the assumption of responsibility, may lead to serious antisocial acts, while sub~ mission, which continues during adolescence at childhood levels of dependence, may handicap the individual throughout his or her whole life.

Day dreaming

It is out of dreams of better things that ambition, inventions, scientific discoveries, and social movements are born. He who does not "dream dreams" is dull and unimaginative. Yet day dreaming may come to be a source of emotional satisfaction and a substitute for real accomplishment. It is easier to achieve success and to escape unpleasant situations in a world of make-believe than in a world of reality. For this reason excessive daydreaming is likely to interfere with one's normal development.

Most persons daydream occasionally; some daydream excessively; and a few, whom we know as patients with dementia praecox, live continuously in a world of fantasy. The solution for the daydreamer is to turn his dreams into reality and to seek opportunities for satisfaction in achievement.

Inferiority Complex

Every intelligent person experiences feelings of inferiority at certain times and in certain situations. Such feelings are not abnormal and need not be disturbing. No one can excel in everything and few reach the limit of their ambitions in anything.

If one has handicaps or limitations, they should be recognized and considered in relation to one's abilities and capacities. On the basis of such an appraisal one should turn his energies into those fields in which he has the greatest chance of achieving success and satisfaction.

Superiority Complex

It is just as natural for one to feel superior in certain situations as it is to feel inferior in others. Some persons feel and act superior because of wealth, good looks, athletic skill, etc. This usually leads to unpopularity and to an unhealthy mental and emotional state.

Many persons who seem to exhibit a superior attitude are really overcompensating for feelings of inferiority. The man whose daily work makes him feel inferior and the woman who is unsuccessful in her social contacts are apt to be tyrants with their families. A ruthless judge on the bench may be a "worm" at home.

No one is perfect. Everyone has his good points as well as his faults. Over attention to either is undesirable. In order to be in a contented and healthy state of mind one must accept oneself as one is, make the most of one's capabilities and Opportunities, and not be too discouraged with achievements which fall below one's aspirations..

Worry is an ineffectual expenditure of time and nervous energy upon uncertainties or upon situations beyond one's control. For the most part worry is confused and disorganized thinking, which interferes with both accomplishment and peace of mind. To avoid this common weakness, one must make decisions upon the best available information and be content with such decisions. At times additional information is needed before an intelligent decision can be made. In such instances the problem should be put out of mind until the necessary information has been obtained and a decision is possible. Otherwise indecision and procrastination lead to delay, confusion, and worry.

Worry over mistakes that one has made, uncertainties ahead, or situations beyond one's control obviously can be of no avail. Yet such worry is difficult to avoid. Concentration upon one's work or one's hobbies and participation in sports, particularly if this involves physical exercise, will help to replace worry with organized thinking and activity.

Refusal to face difficulties or unpleasant situations gives rise to emotional conflict and worry. Discussion of one's problems with an understanding physician or friend frequently provides relief from their burden and may lead to a solution. To many religion or philosophy serves as a stabilizer and as an anchor in the storms of emotional conflict.

Psychoneuroses some persons, young and old, facing insecurity, failure, unpleasant tasks, or embarrassment find an acceptable escape through illness. This is usually entirely subconscious. Therefore, the patient is dissatisfied when his physician says that there is "nothing organically wrong with him." His pain is just as real to him as though it were caused by organic disease, and if his physician does not discover its cause and recommend appropriate treatment, he is likely to drift into the hands of anyone who promises to help him.

The symptoms which may accompany the psychoneuroses are legion headaches, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, blurring of vision, paralysis, etc. Careful investigation of such a patient's symptoms, worries, and anxieties may reveal the basic cause of the trouble, although the services of a psychiatrist are frequently necessary for both diagnosis and treatment.

I firmly believe that the whole universe is inter-connected. Our body, mind and spirit are deeply rooted with each other. If body is sick, the mind cannot relax or feel good. And if mind is not relaxed, it will give birth to stress and that will lead to chronic health problems.

So, it is clear that in order to posses a sound body we must have a calm and peaceful mind. Without a sound mind we cannot expect our potential growth or development.

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