What are we made of? Body, Mind and Emotions.
(image source – 172-1720488_phenylketonuria-disease-crying-baby-cartoons-gif)
We are a bundle of Emotions wrapped up in skin and bone.
It’s unfortunate but Nature may not have dealt you a good hand. Some of us will be born normal and healthy and grow up to be confident and good looking, able to work things out and have a natural ability to draw or play football and have agency (Group 1). While others will be born hesitant by nature, nervous, unattractive, misshapen even with no talent (Group 2). Finally, some will have Downs Syndrome, or Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsy and need to be cared for (Group 3). There are also those who had a normal, healthy pregnancy, then a mistake in the maternity hospital means they are forever brain damaged.
| Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | |
| Nature | Can care for themselves and have agency | Can care for themselves but have little agency | Unable to adequately care for themselves |
At this point it will help to differentiate between mental health and mental illness.
Mental health refers to our emotional and psychological wellbeing. It is influenced by our life experiences. This can impact the way we think, feel and behave. Mental illness encompasses a wide range of disorders often caused by genes or brain chemistry.
In this book I use the term emotional health, or emotional wellbeing, rather than mental health. The reason being our emotions are not mental, they are influenced by our thoughts but are different from the cognitive processes of memory, ideas and thinking.
Here is an AI (Artificial Intelligence) attempt to explain the difference.
Mental health and mental illness are two different things. Mental health is a state of well-being in which a person realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. Mental illness, on the other hand, is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, or behavior. It may be mild or severe, temporary or chronic. Mental illnesses are common, and they can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status.
Here are some of the key differences between mental health and mental illness:
- Mental health is a state of well-being, while mental illness is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, or behavior.
- Mental health is a continuum, while mental illness is a discrete diagnosis.
- Mental health can be affected by a variety of factors, including genetics, environment, and life experiences, while mental illness is often caused by a combination of factors.
- Mental health can be improved through a variety of interventions, including therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes, while mental illness is typically treated with a combination of therapy and medication.
It is important to remember that mental health and mental illness are not mutually exclusive. A person can have both good mental health and a mental illness. For example, someone who is diagnosed with depression can still have good mental health if they are able to manage their symptoms and live a fulfilling life.
If you are concerned about your mental health, it is important to talk to a doctor or mental health professional. They can help you assess your mental health and develop a treatment plan if needed.
Source https://bard.google.com/?hl=en (20/4/23)
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22/4/23
