Is mental illness definable?

An excellent argument is brewing over what is known and what is unknown about mental illness. And what makes this all the more newsworthy is that the experts, those who in he past had all the answers, are now admitting not all of it is so, despite their sincerity in making the past conclusions. To find out more about the muddled statement above, check out what "Inside the Battle to Define Mental Illness" is all about. The author is Gary Greenberg and the article can be read in Wired.

Admitting that there is much that is not known about mental illness, and that for the most part, it remains as illusive as before, is an important first step in dealing with it. The condition is surrounded by denial and denial is negative and what else is mental illness but denial? And alongside that are blanks that each and every person must fill in for themselves. And how can a person with many of the tools necessary for filling in these blanks, not available to them, make any headway in understanding their illness?

Mental illness is a sea of broken strings, unanswered questions and a puzzle yet to be worked. First, however, much of the fallacy and errors, wrong interpretations, and yes, denials, must be stripped away before any progress can be made. How then shall we see this devastating disorder? A ship on an aimless course bogged down with barnicles that need be cleared.

It's a Small World Afterall

The idea for the title came while browsing through mental health news articles. One,from India caught my eye. DR. ENNAPADAM S. KRISHNAMOORTHY,writes:"Once again, in October, I had the privilege of attending Chennai's international festival of short films on mental health, “Frame of Mind” organised by SCARF (the Schizophrenia Research Foundation India). My task was to interact with the audience after the Richard Gere film, “Mr. Jones” about an extraordinarily charming man with bipolar affective disorder (manic depressive illness)."
The review of the film is superb. I've seen the film, in fact I own the film. I bought it years ago simply because of the high profile actors, and the fact WalMart was selling it for a dollar. Often they have tubs of films marked down and you have to patiently go through them to find a bargain. It is not one of his better films and I, not having read about the movie, did not know at first he was portraying a bipolar victim.

I did not at the time think too much of it, and had it not been for the review I would not say it was an especially good movie. But on a second evaluation, I can see how it would show the actions of a manic episode. A little hyped up probably and it is well to understand that not all manic depressive patients act this way.

In the review, the members of the group discuss the film and comment. Someone mentioned there was a difference in American ways of looking at Bipolar than perhaps in theirs, but truthfully, I would have thought it was written by an American psychiatrist or psychologist, had I not been told the review originated in India.

Issues they brought up, are issues here. In order to get movie goers to buy a ticket, there must be a love relationship. There is one in this movie, and that is a no no there as well as here. But the heroine takes herself off the case afterwards, since she understands she overstepped the bounds of medical ethics. Again I say, read the review, then watch the movie if you want to get a glimpse of manic-depression in action.

I agree with the reviewers the movie should be 'taken with a grain of salt'. Movies and real life are not the same. And certainly where bipolar and other mental illnesses are concerned, there are certain characteristics common to each illness that can be looked for, but for bipolar, the hyped up episodes mainly follow the individual traits of the person.

As an example, take a so called normal person in his or her ups and downs and fast forward these. The actions would all be different because the personality, ambitions, and makeup of the individual are different. It is the acceleration of the mood that makes it out of place. As in the case of the movie "Mr. Jones", one would get the notion by watching the movie, he thought he could fly like a bird. Normal people like to fly, and they do, but they do so by simulation, in planes designed for the purpose of flying.

By contrast a bipolar victim could just as easily go beyond the limits of the norm, and with acceleration of their desire to set the world straight would start preaching to crowds about the fact if God had wanted man to fly he would have given him wings. Of course that is true, but the earth is not heaven, and mere mortals are not angels.

Back to the the Hindu magazine and the article about Mind Matters and "A True Balance." It is one of the best descriptions about the heartbreak of bipolar I have read, at least recently. I will be checking in with them regularly to see what other pertinent ideas they generate concerning health issues. As a note: When researching a topic and the news source is Hindu, check it out. This is the daily paper of India, and is a well respected paper. The magazine with the review just mentioned, is aligned with this paper.

PS: The scroungy looking art work is, like the victims of mental illness, somewhat torn and out of sorts. It is nothing more than a collage I designed once as a book cover. The book was written, the cover was designed, but neither went the file cabinet. To me it is a window on the world as seen through a window pane. And of course I will not apologize for it being frayed and tattered, aren't we of the world, especially those who suffer from mental illnesses not of our own making, also frayed and tattered? We want nothing more than to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Eating Healthy during the holidays

Eating without overdoing it something we all need to do, even during holidays. Here, we must let our mind rule while we disclaim nostalgia. While what one eats is an individual decision to be made by each one, you as the cook can do much to help the cause along. What you as the cook can do, however, is to not serve those holiday favorites in exactly the same way. You can opt for less caloric varieties. Although, it's mainly the second helping that adds the extra calories when the family gets together for holiday fun, but you pretend not to notice. You will pretend you don't notice. Remembrances of how mom made this or that back when they were young brings many returning family members home for the holidays.Watch how one mom solves her holiday dilemmas.

Mom who has learned how to cook healthy while maintaining her status quo with her children have kept up with healthier ways of cooking and, for the most part, none are wiser for her new discoveries. And, knowing the dieting needs of her grown children, she snips a few calories here and adds a little green tea there. She has learned to keep most of this to herself.

So let's follow her along and see how she tailors her holiday offerings along more healthy lines while allowing her family to still believe they are eating comfort food. The comfort is mainly hers while she substitutes Splenda for regular sugar, green tea from Kroger's already brewed and bottled and warmed for the regular kind, and all kinds of other shortcuts.

Thanksgiving feasts: The worst offender for causing dieters to go off their diet they say is Thanksgiving dinner at Moms. So lets stop them from making poor little old mom the scapegoat for the extra weight the little darlings of whatever age gains around this time of year. Cook that turkey without smearing any extra butter on it. The bird has enough fat, why add to it. Gravy and mashed potatoes are a must so let's not tamper with that. Cranberry salad is okay as is since only a spoonful or two is eaten. A package of cranberries requires about a cup of sugar, but ah, the other healthy properties of cranberries give it good marks for dinner.
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Holiday frenzy and mental health

December is always a busy time of year. The traditions that have been piled on century after century, instead of bringing us the peace that is desired, leave most of us stressed, irritable, and out of control. So much is expected of us or so we believe. How can we cope with it all while maintaining our jobs and taking care of our families?

First of all we have a free will. We can decide to do only that which we can do well and that which we should do. Christmas, first and foremost, is a spiritual time of the year, it is not meant to bring on stress or make us fretful and resentful of the season. It is a birthday celebration for our Lord, and it is meant to give everyone hope for the future, and more immediate, hope for the future.

That, of course is easier to say than to do. To put it into practice we have to tune out a lot of the commercial aspects that take on ever more control of our lives with each passing year. Of course we need to buy gifts for our children, or give them something to please them, in honor of the baby being born. But that sometime should be a joy for all, not an all out mall invading parade day after day.

Things, toys, new clothes, gadgets, jewelry are good to give and are good to receive. In moderation. But what is more important is to get in touch with the season. Stay at home more with the children, prepare them for Christmas, or what other December holiday that fits in with your family.

Love them, make them feel an important part of the family, and make them feel secure. No parent wants to give their children the feeling that preparing for the big day is a burden. That is sending them the wrong message. Read them the Christmas story, the Jewish story of the holiday, or whatever, but instill the real meaning into them. Don't let them grow up the notion that December is the month for them to clean out the toy stores at their parents expense.

Depression is at an all time time at Christmas time, and the days after. Why is that? For anyone, even the most normal of individuals, if there is any of those around these days, feel somewhat depressed when the first hints of winter arrive. It has something to do with the time to slow down, hibernation may not be exactly the fitting word, but at least a time to sit around the fireside and talk, read, and watch television, and get in touch with ourselves, our family, and most important our God.

Seen in that light, the Christmas celebration is a diversion, a time to keep our spirits up, and is against the normal depressed times. For those who don't understand that, the time is bleak indeed. Something is needed to fill in the void of these sparse months, of January, February and March, and Christmas is meant to give us enough staying power -- and belief, hope and love -- that we will have less problems coping until the first glint of spring.

These feeling are seasonal and are older then Christianity, but are as Godlike as you can get. If we were never to glimpse what it means to be on the other side of happiness and joy, how would we know to welcome it when it comes. I have no proof that the next paragraph I am going to write is factual,true, or if it just so much rambling on, but I feel I must say it.

The mind can control depression and the feelings of hopeless, to a degree, at least. If we can get in the habit of thinking, when we are blue, depressed and down, that we are, by our accepting these bleak times without grumbling, making it easier on someone else to go through some tough time.

If you believe, as I do, that nothing is wasted with God, then it will be easy to accept whatever comes and use it for His purpose. This is one way Christians deal with bleak times. And yes, before I forget I must say we don't need to know what his purpose is, only that He has one. If we knew, we would only succeed in fouling it up, is what I believe.