Belief in treating mental illness is like a religion, and it increases productivity in society
Belief in "mental illness" is like a belief in demons - something external that is causing you to behave differently than expected or desired.
In religious practices, these demons might be exorcised to return an afflicted individual to their usual selves.
In modern practices, "mental illness" is treated as something separate from you, something that is not you, and something that needs to be fixed.
Now, I live within mental illness - I'm not able to do all the things I want to do, and my brain doesn't work how I want it to.
There's a lot of science around mental illness - studies of brains, diagnostic manuals (the DSM), names for various afflictions (depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc), studies of populations.
But what makes "mental illness" not just "me"? Why are my obsessions part of my "OCD" and not part of my personality?
It's a perspective issue really, and it all comes back to beliefs. I think its pseudo-religious.
I think identifying "mental illness" is incredibly useful. I don't want to be depressed or miserable or suicidal. And by identifying mental illness, I have a sort of framework to address these things.
But I'm not so sure that my illness is actually an external affliction. Maybe it's just me. Why is my kindness just Reed, but my depression isn't?
And why does it need to be fixed? Well. Because I want it fixed. Me, for my self, for my own life goals, for what I want out of life.
But for nature, is my depression an illness? Humans are driving significant climate damage and reducing biodiversity in nature. If we were all too depressed to get out of bed, would we still be destroying the planet? No, probably not.
And in a similar vein, from the standpoint of modern society, why is my inability to perform certain tasks an "illness"? Why does it need to be treated? Why does need to be fixed?
For me, it's a mix of wanting to experience good feelings and also wanting to do things I care about.
But for society, it's not. For society, it's about my ability to contribute, to do "normal" things.
I've applied for mental health disability monies, and it is apparent to me that the only way society will agree to support you with money is if you are unable to work, unable to produce. And if you get better and you're able to work again, you have to report that and you lose your benefits.
Why can't I just be like this? Why can't I just be unable to perform many of the daily activities that other people do? Why do I have to be fixed? Or labeled as disabled? Labeled as mentally ill? Why can't I just be Reed?
(Conspiracy time! Just the idea that the entire framework modern society has around mental illness ultimately serves to turn non-productive individuals into productive individuals. I don't have reason to believe there is an actual conspiracy, but instead am considering that the system of treating mental illness is actually a system of turning non-productive individuals into productive individuals. Systems have inputs and outputs regardless what the intentions are of anyone in the system.)