The Myth of Mental Illness

The Myth of Madness: A Journey Through Mental Illness.

Madness. It is a word drenched in fear, stigma and misunderstanding. For centuries societies have labelled individuals as ‘ mad’ to silence them, control them or render them powerless. But what if much of what we call mental illness is not a defect of the individual but a symptom of a fractured society, a mechanism designed to subdue personal agency and perpetuate conformity?

The Birth of Madness as Control

History reveals that the label of madness has been a tool wielded by those in power. In the Middle Ages, women who displayed independence or unconventional wisdom were branded as witches and burned at the stake. In the Victorian era, women’s discontent with their roles in a patriarchal society was medicalised as ‘hysteria’. Today, mental health diagnoses while essential for understanding real suffering, often obscures the social conditions that generate and perpetuate them.

Eric Berne’s transactional analysis provided a powerful lens to understand how individuals are subtly shaped into compliance. His model identified three states of being: the Child, the Parent and the Adult. Societies that rely heavily on control keep individuals locked in the Parent or Child state. The Parent state enforces societal norms and rules, while the Child state remains submissive and dependent. True autonomy resides in the Adult state, where individuals analyse, reason and make decisions based on the reality of the moment, free from the constraints of conditional responses.

The Freudian Lens: The Id, Ego and Superego

Sigmund Freud’s theories of the psyche provide further insights into the mechanisms of control. The Id represents primal desires, the superego embodies societal expectations and the Ego mediates the two. In societies plagued by unhappiness, the superego often becomes tyrannical. Cultural norms and values are internalised as harsh critics, leaving individuals in a perpetual state of guilt or inadequacy.

Statistics point a grim picture. countries with high levels of inequality, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, frequently report higher rates of mental illness and unhappiness. According to the World Happiness Report, nations with strong community ties and egalitarian structures like Finland and Denmark score consistently higher on happiness scales. This suggests that societal structures play a profound role in mental well-being.

The Creation of Unhappiness

Consider the societal pressures to achieve, conform and consume. These pressures often distort individual desires, forcing people into lives that feel disconnected from their true selves. The cost? A pandemic of anxiety, depression and existential despair. When individuals defer to their societal expectations rather than listening to their inner voices, they risk living lives devoid of meaning.

The consequences of this deference can be profound;

Loss of Identity: Suppressing one’s true self to fit societal moulds fan lead to a fragmented sense of identity.
Emotional Stagnation: By remaining in the Parent or Child state, individuals fail to grow emotionally, perpetuating cycles of dependence and disempowerment.
Inauthentic Relationships: Relationships based on societal expectations rather than genuine connection often lack depth and fulfilment.

Living Authentically

To break free from these chains, individuals must embark on a journey of authenticity. This begins with moving into the Adult state, where decisions are made with clarity, grounded in reality rather than conditional responses. It also requires integrating Freud’s Id, Ego and Superego in a balanced way, allowing primal desires and societal norms to coexist without one dominating the other.

Here are some steps to reclaim authenticity:

Self-Awareness: Reflect on whether your choices align with your true values or societal expectations. Journaling, therapy and mindfulness practices can aid in this process.
Challenge the Narrative: Question the norms and beliefs you have internalised. Are they serving you, or are they a means of control?
Build Community: Surround yourself with people who encourage authenticity rather than conformity.
Simplify: in a world obsessed with consumption, learn to find joy in simplicity. This can create space for deeper self-discovery.
Embrace Imperfection: Authenticity is not about perfection. It’s about being true to who you are, flaws and all.

Famous Figures Once Labeled as Mad

History is filled with individuals who were labeled as ‘ mad’ because they dared to defy societal norms and live authentically. Their brilliance, originality and refusal to conform often placed them at odds with their time, yet their contributions have shaped our world profoundly.

Vincent van Gogh: A genius painter who struggled with mental health challenges, van Gogh’s work once dismissed as incomprehensible, is now celebrated for its raw emotional intensity and originality. His art, from ‘Starry Night,’ to ‘Sunflowers,’ revealed a soul deeply connected to the beauty and turmoil of existence.
Virginia Woolf: A literary pioneer, Woolf’s innovative stream-of-consciousness style redefined modern fiction. Despite her struggles with mental illness, she produced masterpieces like Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse, offering profound insights into human psychology and societal constraints.
Nikola Tesla: A visionary inventor who imagined technologies far ahead of his time, Tesla’s eccentricity and unorthodox methods led many to dismiss him as ‘mad’. Yet his groundbreaking work in electricity and wireless communication laid the foundation for much of modern technology.
Frida Kahlo: Known for her surreal, intensely personal self-portraits, Kahlo turned her physical and emotional pain into art that resonates across cultures. Her unapologetic exploration of identity, gender and politics continues to inspire.
Socrates: The father of Western philosophy, Socrates was condemned for ‘corrupting the youth’ and challenging the status quo. His commitment to questioning and seeking truth, even at the cost of his life, remains a powerful example of intellectual courage.

These figures and countless others, remind us that what society deems ‘mad’ is often a reflection of its own limitations. Their stories challenge us to rethink the boundaries of normalcy and celebrate the transformative power of authenticity.

A Call to Action

The myth of madness has perpetuated a dangerous narrative that isolated individuals and shifts blame away from the systemic forces at play. By recognising mental illness as a societal symptom rather than a personal failure we can begin to create a world where authenticity is valued over conformity and where individuals can thrive in their Adult state.

In the words of Carl Jung, ‘The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.’ Let us dismantle the myth of madness and reclaim the profound power of authenticity, not just for ourselves but for the generations to follow.

A Poem: The Song of the True Self

They called me Mad, a storm, untamed,

For speaking truths, they feared to name.

A fire burned within my soul,

Refusing chains, rejecting control.

They built their walls, their iron gates

To cage the dreamer who creates.

Yet dreams are wild, they cannot be bound,

They rise like roots from sacred ground.

Oh, weary heart, do not despair,

For freedom breathes in open air.

Your voice, your song, is all your own,

A truth that blossoms, fully grown.

So stand, unbroken wild and free,

The world may judge but let it be.

For madness, friend, is but the guise,

Of those who see with clearer eyes.