“Hand holding a sparkler” by Free Photos. Public domain via Pixabay.
When we think of mental illness we’re likely to recall experiences, behaviours, and psychological states that are bad for the individual: a person with severe depression loses all interest in life; another with anxiety might not be able to leave the house; auditory hallucinations can be terrifying; paranoia can make social interaction impossible; and delusions take the person away from a shared reality. When we describe these experiences and states as illnesses we are acknowledging that it is not wholly within the person’s control to act otherwise. When a person is ill, they really cannot help it. That is why being ill often protects someone from condemnation and, in some cases, garners sympathy.
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