In daily life, many people say things like “are crazy”, “you have something in your head” or “you must be sick to do that” when someone hurts.
But eye: not everything bad comes from mental illness. And not every person with a mental illness hurts.
Sometimes it’s evil. Sometimes it is suffering. Sometimes it is pure ignorance of how the human mind works.
-All person who hurts has a mental illness?
-No. And neither does every person with mental illness hurt. Do not mix things. The key is in three things: if the person understands what he does, if he does it with intention, and if he can put himself in the place of the other.
-Then, what is a mental illness?
-It is an alteration in the way a person thinks, feels, perceives reality or behaves, and that affects their emotional well -being, their daily life and their relationship with others. Sometimes it is so strong that the person suffers a lot, it is difficult for him to adapt to life or even lose contact with reality.
For example: someone with schizophrenia can be very disorganized, say things that are not understood, or live in their own world … but that does not mean that it wants to hurt anyone.
-And evil? What can you tell us about that?
Evil is another story. Here there is awareness: the person knows what he does, and does it the same. There may be coldness, zero guilt, or even enjoy the damage it causes.
Sometimes there are complicated personality traits, or rather personality disorders, such as psychopathy or malignant narcissism. That is not always a mental illness, but rather a type of personality. And yes: these people know exactly what they do.
-Then can be confused?
Yes, and it is done all the time. That is why it is important to differentiate:
Mental illness generates suffering.
The act of evil generates intentional damage in another.
-Do understanding is the same as justifying?
No. Understanding where things come from does not mean passing them. But it helps us prevent, accompany and do something about it.
Evil is chosen. The disease suffers.
There are those who damage from pain, and others from coldness.
Let’s talk about mental health without prejudice, and point out evil without fear.
Lic. In Psychology –Ccoach Ontological
Posadas, María Josefina
-Psicology Posadas
By CEDOC
