Am I Normal or Nuts?

Oh, it’s so easy for people to attach pejorative labels onto individual quirks. So, if you’ve been wondering (or been told), you’re nuts, weird or wacko, listen up! None of us is as “normal” as we seem. We all have mannerisms that are a bit quirky; traits that are a bit peculiar; idiosyncrasies that make us — us. So, are you normal or nuts? Oh wait a minute, I’ve goofed; “nuts” is not politically correct! Forgive me! Before I get a slew of hate e-mails, I’ll correct myself. Are you normal? Or, do you “suffer” from a “disorder” for which you need treatment, often with prescribed drugs? If you haven’t surmised it yet, let me state my bias. We diagnose way too many normal behaviors as disorders. If your behavior is not up to par, or you’re struggling with some aspect of life (and who isn’t), something’s wrong with you, says the ever expanding mental health system. Shy? You have “Social anxiety disorder (SAD).” Perfectionistic?  “Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).” Anxious?  “Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).” Difficulty focusing? “Attention deficit disorder (ADD).” Recovering from a trauma? “Post-traumatic stress disorder” (PTSD). And the list goes on and on, growing whenever the diagnostic statistical manual (DSM) is updated. Let me tell you one thing that is absolutely true. The boundary between normal and a mental disorder is fuzzy. Yes, if you’re a paranoid schizophrenic, you’re mentally ill. But if you...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Anxiety and Panic Habits Happiness Inspiration & Hope Motivation and Inspiration Psychology Trauma Labels Mental Disorder Normality Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Perfectionism Quirks Social Anxiety Stigma Worry Source Type: blogs