Friday, October 23, 2009

Define Maddness

There is a common conception: the insane don't know they are crazy, they think they are getting better. After all, accepting you have a problem is the first step to recovery right? thus that would mean that if you know you are sick you are getting better right? Then what does it mean when it seems you are getting worse?

There is a quote, I can't remember literally but it was from a patient in an asylum in the 19th century, her name was Anna Agnew. Anna knew something was wrong with her but it took what where several attempts to kill herself and her children to have her committed. When she got there she asked the Doctor if she was insane. His answer was that yes, quite insane. According to Anna, she felt so relieved to hear someone acknowledge her madness. She knew something was wrong, she had tried to kill herself, she was now a threat to her children. Does that make her any less than someone who doesn't know the difference?

And then there is the question of the person themselves. If the crazy don't know it, does that mean this person isn't sick? And would that person stop themselves from reaching out for help because well, if you know something is wrong does it mean you are making ti up or that you are exaggerating what is wrong? I wont say this is not a possibility, but well, maybe you aren't making this up? And maybe you don't want the attention.

Let me pose a question now: Do you think you are mad? I'm not talking technical terms here. And I mean really bad, Anna Agnew bad. Maybe we need someone to tell us it, maybe trying to look for help would not be a bad idea since that could help us check just how close to edge we are. Maybe madness is harder to define than the few terms and list there are. Or I am just rambling, your choice.

No comments:

Post a Comment