With the recent publication of the proposed DSM-V there's been a lot of discussion about what should be in there and how it should be addressed.  Most of what I'm reading seems to have the central theme of trying to achieve normalcy.

If we are all unique then unique should be normal.  Yet the psychiatric community works to establish a set of rules for what is normal and what isn't.  And if it's not normal then it's listed in the DSM.

So in effect, they create a set of rules that they call normal.  Then they tell us that we should all work to achieve this concept of normalcy.  That means over 6.8 billion people, each one of us unique in our own way, need to adjust our personalities and work to become more normal as defined by the "experts".

If that isn't insanity, I don't know what is!

I think it was Einstein who said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."  Well the psychiatric community keeps doing the same thing, creating their rules of normalcy, and expecting the world to follow it.  It hasn't worked yet and it never will.

Maybe the sane should write a new book to help those who are unhappy.  We can title it, "How to learn to be accepting of the rest of the world."  Then we can give the first copies to the psychiatric community and help them understand what the real path to happiness is so they will stop focusing on their version of normal.

The psychiatric community is simply shoring up its own power base.

Sadly, the image of insane criminals doing all sorts of dreadful things is still in the public mind.

As far as i'm concerned there is only one defination of a mental illness. When something is a problem.

In other words, if we can continue to function in or daily lives, then we are meantally healthy.

Normal means being unique, but wanting what others have.

"Be Who You Are and Say What You Feel Because Those Who Mind Don't Matter and Those Who Matter Don't Mind." Dr Seuss says, because eventually their archaic methods will fall by the wayside, or better still they will be 'assimilated'.

Dr Erensaft says it best, "If we allow people to unfold and give them the freedom to be who they really are, we engender health. And if we try and constrict it, or bend the twig, we engender poor mental health,"[1]

However if we allow the methods of reparative or coercive therapy to flourish then "I would say all the kids I've worked with who have gone through that kind of treatment, they have not come out better; they've come out worse." says Dr Erensaft[1]

Why will reparative or coercive therapy fail?  There is a growing body of evidence that reparative and coercive therapies are failures.  Not the best sources, but it is a start for those that want  to pursue this matter further.

I like the way nature made me, well almost.  I accept who I am and I live in peace knowing that I am normal.

Kind regards
Sarah B
[1]Two Families Grapple with Sons' Gender Preferences

I often wonder what normal is. I maintain that we are dichotomies of two or more personalities. I believe to put people in boxes that psychology deems that you suppose to be in is abuse in the highest form. This why you have GLBT people committing suicides. You have anorexic girls starving themselves. You have atheltes pumping themselves with steroids. You get the picture.

All the psychiatric community has done is cause much discontent and needless heartrache.

Gennee