Here is my burning question: do we really have a mental health crisis? It seems there is no longer any objective metric for measuring mental illness. The definition of trauma and harm has shifted, casting a wider net. Under these new definitions, everyone is mentally ill. Does thinking you’re mentally ill make you mentally ill? Does a diagnosis by a therapist even mean anything anymore? Are we taking healthy people and convincing them they’re mentally ill? This in itself is a crisis but perhaps it should have a name other than “mental health crisis.”
Like bone that needs pressure and resistance in order to become strong, our psychology improves from challenges that elicit growth. As you point out here, the cultural environment we occupy today offers far fewer opportunities to stretch one's limits. Instead, you have nearly endless access to entertainment and self-indulgence, which merely reduces the scope of our being.
I saw a video yesterday of a young man on TikTok singing that no one can take this app from them (via YouTube cuz I don't have that app). I made the comment - imagine the future where you have ancestors that fought in actual wars and then one person chimes in "my ancestor fought to keep an app". Sad days.
I've been thinking this for years, for many people life has become too easy. If you aren't having to worry about food or shelter the mind will find something else to worry about. Thank you once again for your well written essay.
My daughter had challenges (weak core, fine and gross motor skill problems, sensory integration issues, panic attacks) from the time she was about two. Over the years, we tried a lot of interventions, but as a young teen, she was diagnosed as probably having Non-Verbal Learning Disorder. She saw therapists but was put on a string of anti-anxiety/antipdepressive medications that helped with panic attacks but never gave her anything like a normal life. The therapists talked about things like positive self-talk and relaxation, but they never made her accountable for following up on anything, and the therapy never made difference in her willingness to try new things or push herself. She's graduated from college and is living at home and holding down a job, and she's trying to wean off the drug she's on. But she still is anxious to go to a grocery store, to talk to people, etc. None of the professionals every helped. They mainly pushed pharmaceuticals.
Well this is all very depressing- but truly if humans require adversity and challenge in their lives and a life of comfort and pleasure is unhealthy- then how are we to define our ultimate goal of humanity’s progress? If there is never to be a life free of discomfort- if not for us then at least for our offspring- what is the point?
Here is my burning question: do we really have a mental health crisis? It seems there is no longer any objective metric for measuring mental illness. The definition of trauma and harm has shifted, casting a wider net. Under these new definitions, everyone is mentally ill. Does thinking you’re mentally ill make you mentally ill? Does a diagnosis by a therapist even mean anything anymore? Are we taking healthy people and convincing them they’re mentally ill? This in itself is a crisis but perhaps it should have a name other than “mental health crisis.”
Like bone that needs pressure and resistance in order to become strong, our psychology improves from challenges that elicit growth. As you point out here, the cultural environment we occupy today offers far fewer opportunities to stretch one's limits. Instead, you have nearly endless access to entertainment and self-indulgence, which merely reduces the scope of our being.
This was a necessary read for me. In my senior years I’ve become far too comfortable with comfort over challenges. Thanks.
I saw a video yesterday of a young man on TikTok singing that no one can take this app from them (via YouTube cuz I don't have that app). I made the comment - imagine the future where you have ancestors that fought in actual wars and then one person chimes in "my ancestor fought to keep an app". Sad days.
I've been thinking this for years, for many people life has become too easy. If you aren't having to worry about food or shelter the mind will find something else to worry about. Thank you once again for your well written essay.
My daughter had challenges (weak core, fine and gross motor skill problems, sensory integration issues, panic attacks) from the time she was about two. Over the years, we tried a lot of interventions, but as a young teen, she was diagnosed as probably having Non-Verbal Learning Disorder. She saw therapists but was put on a string of anti-anxiety/antipdepressive medications that helped with panic attacks but never gave her anything like a normal life. The therapists talked about things like positive self-talk and relaxation, but they never made her accountable for following up on anything, and the therapy never made difference in her willingness to try new things or push herself. She's graduated from college and is living at home and holding down a job, and she's trying to wean off the drug she's on. But she still is anxious to go to a grocery store, to talk to people, etc. None of the professionals every helped. They mainly pushed pharmaceuticals.
Well this is all very depressing- but truly if humans require adversity and challenge in their lives and a life of comfort and pleasure is unhealthy- then how are we to define our ultimate goal of humanity’s progress? If there is never to be a life free of discomfort- if not for us then at least for our offspring- what is the point?