Where am I on the Mental health spectrum?

‘Mental health’ is a value neutral phrase, but it seems to connote negativity. 

Our professional experience in the field of mental health issues is limited to publishing books that explore the mind while undertaking great expeditions, which have some observers casually remarking: “You must be mad!”

One thing we have learned is this: it is definitely not a question of “us and them”.  It is not that we who are generally “fine” are over here on the mainland, and that the people we see and read about in the media who fit any of our personal descriptors for what psychiatric disorders may be, are over there on some remote island of insanity.

Good people sometimes do bad things and vice versa. Sensible people sometimes so crazy things, and vice versa.

We are all on the spectrum. We are all walking along a cliff top; most of us most of the time keep at a safe distance, but it is possible, at any given time, that we might stray too close to the edge or even be swept off, depending on the prevailing wind and other conditions outside our control.

We should not necessarily attempt to avoid situations that carry a risk of making us sad, upset or angry, but to have the skills and wisdom to know how to deal with them when they do. Granted, experience tells us how we might avoid some negative experiences by making good decisions in the first place, but many factors that might contribute to the state of our mind are external, and an equally important skill is equipping ourselves with the ability to navigate our way out of that creek without that implement.

Knowing ourselves, really knowing ourselves, is the first stage of being able to figure out where we actually are on that spectrum, and having a clear idea of where we would like to be.

Knowing how to source help to gain a helping hand to do so is the next step, and one which splits into a hundred sub-steps.

We are publishers, so we would say this wouldn’t we, but we are passionate believers in the theory that reading about other people’s experiences is a valid way of helping to put our own in a meaningful perspective. We accept the axiom that “Happiness is… not comparing oneself to others”. We also recognise how a thoughtful and sometimes critical consideration of other people’s experiences can have a huge positive impact on our lives.

Last week was Mental Health Awareness Week. One Eye Books contribution is to bring to the attention of the public a book by Maria Katsonis, which deals with her battle through a complete breakdown. There are many aspects of her story that are unique to her, but many which will resonate with anyone living in a modern western society.

Published on
May 23, 2016