Normal?

[andyhp]

Apparently 8% of the earth's population are experiencing some degree of depression at any one time. Another 8% are experiencing some form of anxiety at any one time and about the same are experiencing stress to some degree.

If we add in all the people experiencing OCD, PTSD, BPD, SAD and all the other 'disorders', all the bereaved, all those who are lonely, all those who feel unfulfilled, all those with 'existential angst', all the 'problem' angry. Don't you think it begs the question,

What is normal then?

[Katmandu40]

Hey!! That must mean I'm "normal"!!!:weee:

[shrinknightmare]

Wouldn't it be pretty boring if you had no worries, no fears, etc. There would be nothing left to achieve.

[Old Wolf]

Perhaps normal is what we perceive it to be? Is that what Counselling does? - when we feel stuck in a normality that is distressing it helps us change our perception of ourselves. At any point in time we are all normal when normal is what we would expect to be given the journey we've undergone to reach that point. The beauty and wonder of normal is that it is continuously changing and shifting in an almost organic way - new perception evolving from old. The trap we often fall into, especially when low or in distress, is beleiving that it is fixed, unchangeable. Nothing is fixed, we are never destined to stay as we are - sometimes, however, it can be difficult to see the path forward which is where good counselling can, hopefully help!!

Chaos gives rise to order and order gives rise to chaos - life is a paradox - enjoy!

[Steve]

Perhaps normality is just the desire to conform.

[mel]

I dont need to know what normal is - all I need to know is what abnormal is

[Daisychain]

Hey!! That must mean I'm "normal"!!!:weee:

:agreed:I'm normal too!! hehe

[andyhp]

Great replies from all!

Loved these in particular

Wouldn't it be pretty boring if you had no worries, no fears, etc. There would be nothing left to achieve.

Hey!! That must mean I'm "normal"!!!

It does seem to me that all the different psychotherapy/counselling theories suggest/promote/imply (insert own word if needed) that we 'shouldn't have' irrational thoughts, cognitive distortions, 'disordered' emotions and/or 'interrupted' emotions and likewise have their unique 'cures'. I read a while ago (can't remember who said it) that if we apply these 'ideals' of psychological 'health' then actually someone in a coma is probably very psychologically healthy!

I guess my conclusion is... there's no normal, there's no abnormal, there's no psychologically 'sick', there's no psychologically 'healthy' and there's far more 'right' with all of us than there is wrong with us.

Same (unknown) author also said something like, "...it is life threatening (literally sometimes!) not to feel pain, it is life deadening not to feel sadness"

[andyhp]

Perhaps normality is just the desire to conform.

For some reason I missed your reply Steve!

Society sets the 'norm' and we want to conform to that. The very language we use reinforces both the norm and our desire to 'be' that norm. We in the psychotherapy/counselling 'profession' fall into the same language trap and reinforce those ideals of psychological normality or health. I do it for sure just look at some of my other posts!

Of course it does seem that even in both our posts there is a similar trap. We talk of society as object yet what is society made up of if not you, me and everyone else? We do it to ourselves.

[Bid]

Hi andyhp.
it wouLd be very boring if we were all normal. "what is normal" I really don't know. one day might find the answer.

[andyhp]

Hi andyhp.
it wouLd be very boring if we were all normal. "what is normal" I really don't know. one day might find the answer.

Hi Bid, yep it would be wouldn't it, even if we knew what normal is which of course we don't because there is no normal.

As I've said though it does appear that the different theories 'tell' us that there is and each have their different 'emphases' for what it is to be normal and society (us!) also has it's norms too. Problems may arise when we start to believe the theories and the norms and try to 'be' them or 'solve' ourselves so we fit or conform. Not easy to 'opt out' though as the very language we use and accept without question (both 'inner self speak' and verbalised outer speak) is the trap that causes and maintains many so called problems.