Mental Illness or Human Beauty?

Mental diseases, disorders, and defects has hindered humanity since its’ beginning and birth. From the popularity of depression and anxiety to the terror of post-traumatic stress and schizophrenia, a high percentage of humans struggle with their own mental flaws and illnesses. The variety and emphasis of such a topic has been explored by the research of doctors, and represented in many forms and fashions of literature. However, the theme and labels of these mental representations fall under a kingdom that I perceive as humanity’s himartia, the spiritual war where mankind has grown to believe that the world outside of them, is the only world that holds value.

    It has been ultimately and magnificently proven through the book One Flew Over the Cukoo’s Nest, that every human has mentalities, mindsets, and art within them that should not be and cannot be labeled as mental illness. It is not a disease, it is rather an emotional opportunity to represent the depths of one’s soul. The main character and leader of the revolution within the mental hospital that the book takes place in is a powerful, intelligent war veteran by the name of McMurphy. He is on a mission to design a peace treaty of embracement for the war between the patients who have been manipulated to think that what makes them who they are is why they are there by the power-tripping nurse. McMurphy is the monger of the opposition to the spiritual war that society experiences through their prioritization of politics, safety, money, and themselves. When discussing his ideals to the patients in his attempt to release them of the boundaries and cage they have been placed in by these labels, his beautiful, revolutionary mentality is perfectly revealed when he says, “Never before did I realize that mental illness could have the aspect of power. Think about it. The most insane man is, probably the most powerful.” Among his arsenal of messages that he is embarking on getting across throughout the crazy journey of this novel, his utmost desire to show those refrained by the mental asylum that they are indeed not crazy is one of the most powerful messages in any piece of literature.
    Fubdukian and Wilson provided another perception upon the spiritual characteristics of mental disabilities and illnesses, describing the labels. They say, “Onlookers may try to divert the mourner’s attention to other topics discourage crying or talking about the loved one. The response suggests that grief is not healthy or that it should be minimized or avoided.” Their perspective upon the popular mental disorder of attachment issues and description of such in enticing. They do not give it a name, but rather describe it with emotions such as grief and greed. They perfectly identify and support the true bullets that are piercing human’s minds and souls, and reinforce the idea that mental illness is much larger than a definition and the answer is much more spiritual than a couple of pills.
    Michael Cornwall, a psychiatrist and writer, attacks the ideas that have hindered contemporary international society and quota for it’s existence in his article, I Don’t Believe in Mental Illness, Do You? He wrote, “I don’t believe in mental illness. I believe we are sovereign souls that should not be imprisoned or be given forced treatments or offered any treatments that do us ANY harm when we are suffering human emotional suffering and madness. I believe we should be given respect, love and compassion.” He perceives the world as if it is destined to be gorgeous madness, thriving in chaos and exploding with beauty. The world is not a blank meadow. It is a loveable garden. Human’s minds are not meant to be refrained to the slightest extent, as the power people exert is the power that is within, an infinite power that begins in the mind and fills the soul. Humans are not suffering from mental illness, humans are exploring the depths of their own universe. Humans are suffering from the shackles of the atmosphere around them, screaming that they are something or need something. The reality is, humans are insurmountable and endless, and it is as simple as that.

    The world has been brought to prioritize safety over freedom. The safety of being able to pay the bills, the comfort of being able to just make it by as average is something that has infested society as if it is the true disease. It is contagious in the way that people’s mentalities regarding how horrible and dark the world is has spread like wildfire. The youth has been influenced by the ignorance that grows inside of maturity. It has been taught to chase success, because what one loves may not be enough. McMurphy sees this as the true disease of society, and teaches the patients to stray away from control and to become what they have the potential of becoming. He profoundly and prolifically states, “The stars up close to the moon were pale; they got brighter and braver the further they got out of the circle of light ruled by the giant moon.” The giant moon is what society speaks to humanity. That money should of be of most extreme priority, that comfort and success is what should be chased above the color in one’s soul.

    The world continues to search, as humanity continues to be lost. The dreams that we possess are not transcending into our realities. Literature has attempted to begin the defense to this loss of spirit that mankind continues to create for itself. The world outside of us, is controlling the one within us, and that is an issue.  McMurphy’s character is the posterchild of the armor-piercing bullets of passion, empathy, and love that needs to become more relevant. It is ignorance, that has blossomed instead of the gardens. There is a universe within every person, and perhaps a universe that needs to be embraced, instead of ran from. Life is rocket science, and humanity needs to attempt to build a UFO. Not to only end this spiritual war, but to do what the souls and spirit within each person are meant to do, break free. Break free from the labels of mental illness, and what society deems as flaws or chemical imbalances. If life is crazy, then be different. Be psychotic.

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