Mental illness

With every generation we have more and more mental illness, this can be seen through symptoms like that of a neurotic, which are conspicuous and yet afflicting, but “let us beware” says Dr. Erich Fromm, “of defining mental hygiene as the prevention of symptoms. Symptoms as such are not our enemy, but our friend; where there are symptoms there is conflict, and conflict always indicates that the forces of life which strive for integration and happiness are still fighting.” Those who appear to be most normal are the most hopeless victims of mental illness. “Many of them are normal because they are so well adjusted to our mode of existence, because their human voice has been silenced so early in their lives, that they do not even struggle or suffer or develop symptoms as the neurotic does.” They are not normal in the real sense of the word; they are only normal in relation to a very abnormal society, and their perfect adjustment to that society is a measure of their mental sickness. Millions of people living without protest in a society to which “if they were fully human beings, ought not to be adjusted,” still cling to the illusion of individuality when in reality they have been greatly de-individualized, their conformity is becoming uniformity, and that is the problem.