You Aren't Retarded....You're In Love

Merika · 02-16-2005, 10:27 AM

Fayebelle sent me this:

In love and madness
By Jen Waters

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

The language of Valentine's Day cards and love songs - "crazy for you," "madly in love," et cetera - may reveal an important truth. Sometimes, love looks like a mental disorder, says British clinical psychologist Frank Tallis.

"Love seems to have the power to destabilize people emotionally," says Mr. Tallis, who has lectured in psychology and neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College in London. "Particularly in vulnerable individuals, it can be very difficult to cope."

The author of "Love Sick: Love as a Mental Illness," Mr. Tallis has a private practice in London, where he says he often has patients who are suffering mentally because of love.

"Some people are referred to me because of an admission to depression or anxiety disorder, but in fact, once we'd explored issues around their problems, it was clear they were just in love."
Link: http://www.insightmag.com/news/2005/...s-863188.shtml

Do you agree?

I need to get Sn00py to show me how to do one of those link things!

Meanon · 02-16-2005, 05:10 PM

The vulnerable will deal less well with severe emotional distress than others. Other than that I don't agree that most normal people suffer some of the symtoms listed but the obsessional phase of love is very similar to other forms of obsession.

In essence you are in a state of anxiety until you are with your lover. Not pleasant but then the reason why people like falling in love (vs being mentally ill) is that it's fantastic when you are with them. The rollercoaster of extreme highs and lows is mediated by brain chemicals as are all emotional reactions.

I think it's playing with semanitics to sell a book. If you are ill then you have some form of abnormal functioning. Love is part of the human condition, it's not an illness. You could say any major emotional experience looks like illness: childbirth, divorce.

What do I know? I'm as crazy as the rest of you loons

Merika · 02-16-2005, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meanon

What do I know? I'm as crazy as the rest of you loons

Speak for yourself...you goofy BRIT!

Meanon · 02-16-2005, 07:04 PM

It's a fair cop, guv!!!!!!

(translation: Yup that's me)

Duke · 02-16-2005, 09:04 PM

I'm not in love, I'm just nuts.

Merika · 02-16-2005, 10:08 PM

Or perhaps we all just become nuts when we fall in love.

Thanks for the translation Meanon.....I'm beginning to feel very internationally aware!

Duke · 02-16-2005, 10:24 PM

...but stupid locally ;-)

Samson · 02-17-2005, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Do you agree?

I agree that any emotional state that causes extremes in behavior is a mental condition that needs to be controlled through psychotherapy and perhaps pharmaceutical applications.

Now how to define "extremes in behavior?" I think you have to know the individual pretty well. Essentially, you must define what is "normal" for the individual and contrast that with the extreme. Most of us can do this to ourselves, stepping away from our behavior and saying "Self, you're really getting very weird, aren't you?" This reflection allows a moderating influance.

Then there are those rare individuals who have no capacity to reflect upon their behavior until someone throws a net over them, and drags them off to a funny farm for electro-shock therapy (a la Hinkley, et al. who decided the best way to get the attention of Jodie Foster was to shoot Reagan).

Finally there is another group, of which we all wish we could be members, and who entertains us all with their bold antics: Individuals for which being extreme is their norm (e.g. Elton John, Michael Jackson, Liberachi, Freddy Mercury, Boy George, and IMHO Paris Hilton). The list is long!

I really love FALLING IN love much more than BEING IN love.

Merika · 02-18-2005, 08:02 AM

I agree Samson. The FALLING is fabulous....it's that damn crash landing that gets us everytime!

As far as bold antics, I've certainly had my share of them. I seem to have settled down in the last year, much to my despair, but I've been totally outrageous. I wouldn't trade a minute of it.

I think the next time I 'reinvent' myself....which occurs every few years or so....I'm going to have a blast ...or end up in jail. Living life in it's 'normal state' is just TOOOOO boring!

Duke · 02-25-2005, 07:18 PM

No need to re-invent yourself Merika, we love you just the way you are.