The Conflation of Psychological Suffering and Severe Mental Illness: Why Clarity Matters
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/may/14/the-definition-of-mental-health-has-been-widened-so-much-that-its-now-almost-meaningless?CMP=share_btn_url
In a world that’s increasingly aware of mental health issues, it’s more important than ever to distinguish between ordinary psychological experiences and severe, enduring mental illnesses. While raising awareness and breaking down stigma are critical, the line between the two is often blurred, leading to unintended consequences. Understanding this distinction isn’t just a matter of semantics—it shapes how we perceive our emotional experiences, support others, and even how we approach mental health care as a society.
The Nature of Ordinary Psychological Distress
Emotions like sadness, anxiety, and grief are deeply woven into the human experience. They can be uncomfortable, even distressing, but they are also natural responses to life’s challenges. When we feel anxious before a big decision or sad after a loss, these emotions signal that something important is happening in our lives. They prompt us to reflect, adjust, and adapt. They are part of our capacity to cope with change, form meaningful connections, and grow.
However, in today’s mental health landscape, there is a growing tendency to medicalise these everyday emotional experiences. Typical reactions to life’s ups and downs are increasingly seen as symptoms that require treatment. While it’s crucial to take people’s emotional pain seriously, we must also recognise that not every experience of distress is a disorder. If we rush to label every uncomfortable emotion as a medical condition, we risk missing the opportunity for self-reflection and growth.
The Impact of Overdiagnosis and Overmedication
The rise in mental health diagnoses has been accompanied by an increase in the use of medications to manage psychological states. While medication is vital for those with severe mental illnesses—conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder—there is concern that we’re applying a medical model to experiences that are not inherently medical. Feelings of sadness, anxiety, or rejection are often natural responses that, when given time and attention, can lead to greater self-understanding and resilience.
The pressure to diagnose and medicate can lead individuals, especially young people, to seek quick explanations for their distress rather than exploring the underlying issues. This focus on diagnosis can overshadow the possibility that what’s experienced is a natural, though painful, part of being human. It can also reduce complex emotional experiences to simple labels, encouraging a mindset where discomfort is seen as something to be eliminated rather than understood.
Recognising the Resources Within
While severe mental illness can be overwhelming and often requires professional intervention, many people experiencing distress can find strength within themselves or through their relationships. Encouraging individuals to explore their internal and relational resources offers hope and a sense of agency. It reminds us that we are not always at the mercy of our emotions—sometimes, the path to healing lies within our ability to face and process our feelings, even when they are difficult.
Of course, this doesn’t mean psychotherapy or other forms of support are unnecessary. Therapy can be transformative, especially when someone feels stuck in patterns they can’t break independently. However, therapy should be sought when it aligns with a person’s own needs and choices, not out of the belief that every emotional struggle needs a professional diagnosis and treatment.
Striking a Balance
The goal is not to dismiss or minimise anyone’s mental health experience but to encourage a balanced perspective. For those with severe mental illness, professional care and sometimes medication are crucial lifelines. For others, the tools for coping might be found within their existing support networks, through personal growth, or by learning to sit with and understand their emotions.
By recognising the difference between psychological distress and severe mental illness, we can approach mental health with greater clarity and compassion. We can respect the importance of lived experience while ensuring that people receive the care most appropriate to their needs. In doing so, we foster a culture where mental health is taken seriously but where ordinary human struggles are not automatically seen as disorders. This nuanced understanding allows us to support each other with empathy while honouring the complexities of ordinary and severe emotional experiences.