There is no doubting that at its worst
psychiatric illness is distressing, debilitating and mentally,
emotionally and physically disabling. It can even be life
threatening. I will never forget a radio interview with a father of
small children whose wife suffered from such severe postnatal
depression that one morning she walked onto the motor way in her
dressing gown.
The Downs of Depression
I have a hunch
that some people are just more prone to mental illness than others –
it is the way our brains are wired. We can probably put it down to
our neurophysiology or lack or serotonin or something. Some people are more likely than others to find themselves on the event
horizon of a giant black hole of despair. And it can be a dark and
lonely place. It's not always that great for the people around them
either.
Many people are functioning
depressives. They get up every morning and usher the kids to school.
They may have a quick cry in the shower (this hides the tears and the
red face) but they then “pull themselves together” and get on
with it. They have successful jobs, they form strong and loving
relationships. Hey, they are even good fun at parties. They are not
the Marvin the Paranoid Android stereotype. Yes, sometimes they are
paranoid, “over sensitive”, insecure, sad and vulnerable but they
are so good at hiding any evidence of mental illness that you are
shocked and surprised when they “come out”. You probably sit next
to one at work. Or maybe they are your boss, your kid's teacher or
your son in law.
Why we need nutters
But what is brilliant and inspiring
about these people is that they are great to have around. They truly
enhance your life. My friends and acquaintances include depressives,
obsessive compulsives, self harmers, people with anxiety issues,
phobias and eating disorders and biopolar bears (sorry, I couldn’t
help that one!). I am not in any way trying to belittle them or
underestimate the severity of the challenges they face. Quite the
opposite: it takes strength and courage to find yourself at the
bottom of a psychological slurry pit and to single handedly drag
yourself out. If you have felt pain and anguish you are more likely
to recognise it in others. The nutters are often the sensitive,
emotionally switched on ones who ooze empathy for others. They are often kind and extremely compassionate. They give good hugs. Being a
nutter can make you a better friend, lover and parent.
Are you a nutter? I am, proudly
I am most definitely a nutter :)
ReplyDeleteLove it. I think many of us go through swings and roundabouts when it comes to being a nutter! Visiting via BYOBH.
ReplyDeleteI think what I was trying to say (in-eloquently I admit)was that our mental states are, like many things, placed somewhere on a continuum. At one end are people with severe psychiatric illness such as paranoid schizophrenia and at the other end are those people that hop and skip through life with rarely a negative thought. Throughout our lives our position on this line moves depending on a plethora of factors. It is fluid. I think I just wished more people would accept that everyone does have a position on the line. It would help to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness and make it easier to talk about.
ReplyDelete