Is happiness a mental disorder?
False
Medical ethics
Is happiness a mental disorder?
Discuss ethical issues with the Medical Ethics department of the BMA and the Institute of Medical Ethics. Please note, the views posted here do not necessarily represent the views of the BMA or the IME
Hi, Julian's new blog is up now on the BMJ website - feel free to discuss below... http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2010/11/11/julian-sheather-is-happiness-a-mental-disorder/ Cheers, Martin
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Forums » Open clinical » Medical ethics » Is happiness a mental disorder?
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Is happiness a mental disorder?
posted at 12/11/2010 11:45 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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*Moderator*
Posts: 83
First: 25/9/2009 Last: 14/2/2012 |
Hi, Julian's new blog is up now on the BMJ website - feel free to discuss below... http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2010/11/11/julian-sheather-is-happiness-a-mental-disorder/ Cheers, Martin |
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Re: Is happiness a mental disorder?
posted at 30/12/2011 2:45 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1288
First: 9/12/2011 Last: 24/5/2013 |
Happiness is in my humble opinion, the absence of Mental Disorder. Our modern world is so full of disorder, confusion, stress, PTSD, and sadness, happiness is a welcome light shining forth to illuminate the darkness! |
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Re: Is happiness a mental disorder?
posted at 30/12/2011 5:00 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 7
First: 24/6/2011 Last: 14/2/2013 |
Happiness comes from deep within a person and is difficult to define. It seems to me to be found most in unselfish persons who love a lot. I would have thought this was the opposite of mental disorder and would put it as mental order really! Happiness is not an easy commodity to find these days but children often possess it unknowingly. You cannot buy it! You know it when you see it! |
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Re: Is happiness a mental disorder?
posted at 28/12/2012 5:52 PM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 31
First: 10/10/2012 Last: 24/5/2013 |
Happiness is a state of mind totally! It is no mental disorder. It is a great thing to be happy. I dont even know why someone would consider it to be a disorder, unless someone is unecessarily happy and ecstatic. Kind of wierd this discussion and hard to comment on it too. |
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Re: Is happiness a mental disorder?
posted at 29/12/2012 8:56 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 962
First: 15/7/2011 Last: 24/5/2013 |
Happiness is a state of non-contradictory joy - a joy without penalty or guilt. Happiness is possible only to a rational man, the man who desires nothing but rational goals, seeks nothing but rational values, and finds his joy in nothing but rational actions, there are no victims and no conflicts of interest among rational men, men who do not desire the unearned. (man also means woman) |
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Re: Is happiness a mental disorder?
posted at 29/12/2012 9:48 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 2949
First: 10/3/2009 Last: 24/5/2013 |
In Response to Re: Is happiness a mental disorder?: Happiness is a state of non-contradictory joy - a joy without penalty or guilt. Happiness is possible only to a rational man, the man who desires nothing but rational goals, seeks nothing but rational values, and finds his joy in nothing but rational actions, there are no victims and no conflicts of interest among rational men, men who do not desire the unearned. (man also means woman) Posted by kirked But many a reglious person has found happiness in their faith. It is thus too rational to reduce everything to the rational as faith is beyond rational. It is like the space between the atoms. I do not think happiness is joy. I regard joy as a form of transient excitatory state in a different orbital from basic low energy happiness. I realise this is semantically-driven non-evidenced-based value statement, but your happiness may be another's joy. Few remain happy for very long whereas one may maintain inner peace and tranquility even in a crisis. The whole USA is in pursuit of happiness and that is why so many go to an analyst and why more of their people than most nations are on antidepressants. The pursuit of happiness is an oxymoron.
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Re: Is happiness a mental disorder?
posted at 30/12/2012 2:16 AM GMT
on bmj.com
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Posts: 107
First: 13/3/2012 Last: 22/5/2013 |
If enough people with mental disorders declare their parameters as being normal, simply because there are so many of them it must be normal, (not common), then happiness would appear to be outside the norm and therefore a mental disorder in that particular paradigm. Hang on, isn't that how science works. If science finds enough of "this" they declare "this" normal. Anything outside that must be "not normal" or a "disorder." Even though the scientists have confused "common" with "normal", the weight of their credibility lets them get away with redefining normal (blood parameters are classic examples). . The DSM V folk are very busy doing exactly the same at the moment. Finding ways to label two year olds with mental disorders so that they can be "treated" at an early age. Children who are happy and carefree will definitely end up with a tag of Mental disorder under those conditions. I am concerned for what will be "normal" in ten year's time. Not just for the kids, but for me too. Will progressive poetry be declared a mental disorder? Will a sense of humour be declared a "mental disorder" because so many patients are depressed and taking medication that they can no longer see the funny side of any situation? In that case, I have two mental disorders already. I see the funny side of life and I am generally happy with moment of tranquility. Ooops, that's three. |
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