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how do you define being normal?
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Anonymous (not verified)
how do you define being normal?
I have noticed while surfing posts that there are many references to " just want to be normal".
So, whats normal...
As I see it, we are all normal.
Statistically 1 in 4 people suffer from issues considered & labeled under the various health models of mental health. if we further consider that statistically the "average" family is 2 parents and 2.5 children then that suggests that the "normal family will consist of 1 "mental" so that makes mental normal.
Now i realize that the very word "mental" conjures all sorts of negative feelings and not surprisingly so because the stigma attached to mental health issues has long been used by hierarchies as a weapon of verbal and stigmatic control & destruction.
I see people as individuals with varying interesting features and personality traits this is normal , some of these traits may manifest at different times in varying degrees of euphoria or negativity but thats because they are emotions and what is not normal is to not present different emotional reactions and feeling though the development of our lives.
When we suffer from depression, by-polar disorder or other mental health issues we are just more likely to express or suppress our emotions in a way that those who don't have these extreme degrees of emotions or personality traits, this doesn't mean we are not normal just different,more sensitive, is perhaps i think a better description, than "normal" which as individuals every single human being is... so lets break with the normal boundaries of stigmatization and accept ourselves as unique individuals with varying levels of emotional responses to our every changing lives and predicaments.
So, whats normal...
As I see it, we are all normal.
Statistically 1 in 4 people suffer from issues considered & labeled under the various health models of mental health. if we further consider that statistically the "average" family is 2 parents and 2.5 children then that suggests that the "normal family will consist of 1 "mental" so that makes mental normal.
Now i realize that the very word "mental" conjures all sorts of negative feelings and not surprisingly so because the stigma attached to mental health issues has long been used by hierarchies as a weapon of verbal and stigmatic control & destruction.
I see people as individuals with varying interesting features and personality traits this is normal , some of these traits may manifest at different times in varying degrees of euphoria or negativity but thats because they are emotions and what is not normal is to not present different emotional reactions and feeling though the development of our lives.
When we suffer from depression, by-polar disorder or other mental health issues we are just more likely to express or suppress our emotions in a way that those who don't have these extreme degrees of emotions or personality traits, this doesn't mean we are not normal just different,more sensitive, is perhaps i think a better description, than "normal" which as individuals every single human being is... so lets break with the normal boundaries of stigmatization and accept ourselves as unique individuals with varying levels of emotional responses to our every changing lives and predicaments.
AnxiousIwas
Re: how do you define being normal?
In my humble opinion, being normal means:
"to act like everybody else, leaving behind who you really are"
Some people go through life without having any problems with that (not being themselves, but what society expects them to be) - but others, like ALL of us here, can't do that. We are forced, via the many forms of "mental illnesses", to face our emotions - but as we still try to "fit in" and "be normal" we end up struggling with all kids of symptoms that the so called mental illnesses bring up.
Not sure it I managed to explain what I think and feel about it, but I gave it a go
"to act like everybody else, leaving behind who you really are"
Some people go through life without having any problems with that (not being themselves, but what society expects them to be) - but others, like ALL of us here, can't do that. We are forced, via the many forms of "mental illnesses", to face our emotions - but as we still try to "fit in" and "be normal" we end up struggling with all kids of symptoms that the so called mental illnesses bring up.
Not sure it I managed to explain what I think and feel about it, but I gave it a go
BDT
Re: how do you define being normal?
i think being normal is just getting on with life not feeling pain or feeling sad or worrying just getting on with life that what i think it normal.
Byrnes
Re: how do you define being normal?
Interesting posts. Was thinking about this this week... much of life trying to be "normal", guess this means to me fitting in with others, not standing out due to inappropriate reactions or conversations, being able to just "go with the flow" and not becoming paranoid others are being disrespectful, or deliberately hurtful - not taking everything so, so personally. When I am on my meds, I am so calm and easy going; off my meds, I have a quicker, sharper sense of humor, more "fun", but also quicker to take offense & react. Normal also means consistency to me - something that can be a challenge with mental illness.
"Guest" - I agree standards should be expanded to embrace a wider variety of "normalcy". But I wonder if it's hard to embrace everyone by their individual uniqueness - wonder if as a species we need some kind of shorthand way to determine "safe/not safe". Anyone who behaves differently than the majority would be considered riskier. Not that this is necessarily true, just wonder if it's some kind of hind-brain reflexive action.
I've tried to remain open and nonjudgemental which has led to some interesting situations:
bad: locked in a old house with someone who looked like Truman Capote after went to look at a rental unit. When invited into his apt to talk details, the room was empty, except for several huge acrylic paintings of what looked like an anthropomorphized screaming corncob "standing" dangerously close to a bonfire (popcorn!). While Truman gave me a run down of his corn god, I happened to notice that every apt branched off of his, like some ungodly octogon, and that every.mirror.was.two.way. It took some fancy tap dancing, and dropping several "gee, my partner will be here ANY MINUTE to pick me up"'s until the main door was unlocked and I could suck the sweet sweet air of freedom.
good: dean, offered me rides in his dirt encrusted (inside!) chevy "just sit on the newspapers; don't mind the dogs" helped me push my 68 Dodge Monaco 4 blocks [didn't complain when he discovered I forgot to disengage the parking brake the first 10 minutes!] he also worked in acrylics (recurring Godzilla at Disneyland theme)...Initially seen as odd, turned out to be delightfully different.
Anxiouslwas: good point that the stress of trying to act "acceptable" might actually cause mental illness symptoms
BDT: this is the most succinct def for me
"Guest" - I agree standards should be expanded to embrace a wider variety of "normalcy". But I wonder if it's hard to embrace everyone by their individual uniqueness - wonder if as a species we need some kind of shorthand way to determine "safe/not safe". Anyone who behaves differently than the majority would be considered riskier. Not that this is necessarily true, just wonder if it's some kind of hind-brain reflexive action.
I've tried to remain open and nonjudgemental which has led to some interesting situations:
bad: locked in a old house with someone who looked like Truman Capote after went to look at a rental unit. When invited into his apt to talk details, the room was empty, except for several huge acrylic paintings of what looked like an anthropomorphized screaming corncob "standing" dangerously close to a bonfire (popcorn!). While Truman gave me a run down of his corn god, I happened to notice that every apt branched off of his, like some ungodly octogon, and that every.mirror.was.two.way. It took some fancy tap dancing, and dropping several "gee, my partner will be here ANY MINUTE to pick me up"'s until the main door was unlocked and I could suck the sweet sweet air of freedom.
good: dean, offered me rides in his dirt encrusted (inside!) chevy "just sit on the newspapers; don't mind the dogs" helped me push my 68 Dodge Monaco 4 blocks [didn't complain when he discovered I forgot to disengage the parking brake the first 10 minutes!] he also worked in acrylics (recurring Godzilla at Disneyland theme)...Initially seen as odd, turned out to be delightfully different.
Anxiouslwas: good point that the stress of trying to act "acceptable" might actually cause mental illness symptoms
BDT: this is the most succinct def for me
BDT
Re: how do you define being normal?
Byrnes wrote:Interesting posts. Was thinking about this this week... much of life trying to be "normal", guess this means to me fitting in with others, not standing out due to inappropriate reactions or conversations, being able to just "go with the flow" and not becoming paranoid others are being disrespectful, or deliberately hurtful - not taking everything so, so personally. When I am on my meds, I am so calm and easy going; off my meds, I have a quicker, sharper sense of humor, more "fun", but also quicker to take offense & react. Normal also means consistency to me - something that can be a challenge with mental illness.
"Guest" - I agree standards should be expanded to embrace a wider variety of "normalcy". But I wonder if it's hard to embrace everyone by their individual uniqueness - wonder if as a species we need some kind of shorthand way to determine "safe/not safe". Anyone who behaves differently than the majority would be considered riskier. Not that this is necessarily true, just wonder if it's some kind of hind-brain reflexive action.
I've tried to remain open and nonjudgemental which has led to some interesting situations:
bad: locked in a old house with someone who looked like Truman Capote after went to look at a rental unit. When invited into his apt to talk details, the room was empty, except for several huge acrylic paintings of what looked like an anthropomorphized screaming corncob "standing" dangerously close to a bonfire (popcorn!). While Truman gave me a run down of his corn god, I happened to notice that every apt branched off of his, like some ungodly octogon, and that every.mirror.was.two.way. It took some fancy tap dancing, and dropping several "gee, my partner will be here ANY MINUTE to pick me up"'s until the main door was unlocked and I could suck the sweet sweet air of freedom.
good: dean, offered me rides in his dirt encrusted (inside!) chevy "just sit on the newspapers; don't mind the dogs" helped me push my 68 Dodge Monaco 4 blocks [didn't complain when he discovered I forgot to disengage the parking brake the first 10 minutes!] he also worked in acrylics (recurring Godzilla at Disneyland theme)...Initially seen as odd, turned out to be delightfully different.
Anxiouslwas: good point that the stress of trying to act "acceptable" might actually cause mental illness symptoms
BDT: this is the most succinct def for me
i'm easy going i don't care what people think i just do my own thing but i'm not normal at all.
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