Do you think everyone could be classified as having some kind of mental "illness"?

Answer 1

I wouldn't be surprised. You have to be crazy to live in this World! I'm crazy, You're crazy, We ALL are crazy!

However, six out of eight voices in my head, said "Not necessarily! We live here and we aren't a bit crazy!" The other two said "No comment!"

Answer 2

First of all, "classified" is a poor word choice. Also, I think you'd be hard pressed to find an individual who is entirely mentally "healthy". However, because of the way the diagnostic criteria work, you must have symptoms and dysfunction. Most people have either symptoms and no dysfunction or some dysfunction but not with all of the symptoms.

Almost everyone will suffer some form of depression (mild or otherwise) at some point in their life. Almost everyone will be under quite a large amount of stress at some point in their life. I can understand why this common thread can lead individuals to believe that everyone has some psychological problems, and to an extent, that is true. To live is to feel joy and pain. However, the majority of people do not have a diagnosible psychological condition and cannot be "classified" as such.

Answer 3

Being kinder to others makes your own battles seem less or even seems to fight your own battles for you. I am a giver generally and feel my problems are insignificant compared to others when there was a time when it was the opposite, at a time I did very little giving. That was a personal cycle I went through and feel if everyone was doing similar then naturally there would be more order and peace. I would say I am a more generous soul now, but less tolerant of those who are 'needy' Is that a contradiction? I liked Haz's answer too - I feel I have and do more than my fair share of being kind

Answer 4

At one time or another in their lives, 100% of persons whom are breathing and have a pulse could be accurately described as having some sort of mental illness.

"Normal" is relative, and "Sane" is a concept. After all, even Hitler had a soft side, which was only, admittedly, shown to a very few people. I don't think there is any "Normal" or "Sane" person in the world whom would deny that the paranoid and sociopathic little pest was not insane.

If you worry that you might be insane, you're saner than the person whom "knows" they are sane.

Answer 5

Absolutely! Mental illness is still a new territory that is in the realm of social conformity. There is no such thing as normal, however, there is a such thing as behaviors that are acceptable as part of the social norm. Anything outside that narrow sphere of "normal" can and usually does get branded as an illness. Depression and anxiety being the "hot" illnesses of today's adults and ADD or ADHD in children. It's the lazy "catch all" for those who don't behave the way it is expected. God forbid people should accept responsibility for their choices in life, must be the mental illness!

Answer 6

Yes any of these social, psychological, biochemical, genetic, or other factors cause this.

Although some people may disagree, I believe a lot of what you eat determines how mentally stable you are. Every sense that the brain has can affect stability.

Answer 7

Probably. The diagnostic criteria can be pretty general and vague. Do you remember those Zoloft commercials a couple of years ago with the sad blobs? According to those everyone is depressed.

Answer 8

Illness may be a little harsh.

Quirk might be closer to the truth. I know I have the occasional OCD moment now and then.

Answer 9

I do think we are all dysfunctional from time to time. We are ill when that is the case all of the time.
C. :)!!

Answer 10

Sure. But some people have it worse than others and cannot manage on their own so they need professional help.