The human psyche is a very complex physiological mechanism, which is not so difficult to damage the normal functioning of our time. If you want to check yourself for mental illness, then check your condition with the following properties that are unique to a healthy psyche.
10. The presence of a conscious value system
This means that in a healthy person, abstractly speaking, the understanding of good and evil consists of impressions and assessments of what is happening around. At the same time, in a mentally full-fledged personality, values can undergo certain corrections associated with the normal course of life, the growth and emergence of a certain experience.
9. The ability to love another person
Here we are talking about conscious love, that is, a process that involves a certain type of interpersonal interaction. At the same time, love should be manifested not only by the presence of a certain fixation on a certain object (be it a loved one, parent, child, brother, sister, etc.), but also by the need for an active manifestation of this love, for example, care, responsibility, tenderness, etc. P. It is also important for a healthy person to realize that in love it is necessary to strive to open towards one's beloved, because only with this condition it is possible to build relationships based on mutual affection and cultivate love for many years.
Love based on obsessive sex drive, fetish, or unhealthy fanaticism can be a sign of mental deviation.
8. Realistic and sustainable self-esteem
Delusions of greatness or pathological self-flagellation are objectively unhealthy conditions. These extremes indicate a violation of a realistic assessment of oneself and one's capabilities. The consequences of such a “malfunction” may be the development of depressive states, chronic stress and frustration.
7. The ability to accept one's impotence
This means that it is common for a healthy person to experience frustration, sadness, anger and despondency, but still be aware that there are situations that we cannot change. In this case, the only possible way out is simply to reconcile and accept reality as it is.
Very often an unhealthy, from the point of view of psychiatry, reaction occurs to the death of a loved one, divorce or unrequited love. A complete denial of the situation does not allow a person to perceive its inevitability and accept this as a given. Against the background of such a disorder, more severe mental pathologies may occur that will require long-term treatment.
6. The ability to autonomy and self-reliance
Simply put, a person’s ability to make choices, make decisions, perform certain actions, being aware of his personal responsibility for all the consequences arising from this. Understanding individual responsibility for one’s actions is a sign of a psychologically mature and developed personality.
5. Caring for your health
Every living creature has an instinct of self-preservation in one way or another. This is the basic physiological mechanism ensuring the viability of the species. People who cannot realistically assess the degree of impending threats are very at risk of falling into a life-threatening situation.
Caring for one’s state of health is a variation of this instinct, that is, a person realizes that his neglect of his own health will lead to negative consequences. The reverse situation is when a person is obsessed with his illnesses (imaginary and real), because of which he sharply narrows his circle of interests and the “imaginary patient” begins to degrade both intellectually and emotionally.
4. Flexibility and adequacy in the use of psychological defense
When we are in a state of danger or severe stress, our subconscious mind tries to protect us from experiencing these unpleasant emotions, therefore, gives the command: “Run!”. A person with a mental disorder is likely to succumb to this instinct. At the same time, avoiding negative emotions, he exacerbates problems that only worsen during his vibrations. A healthy person, in turn, has the opportunity, contrary to his subconscious fears, by clenching all his will into a fist, to do as circumstances require of him, and not as primitive fear dictates to him.
3. The ability to look at oneself from the side
In the professional terminology of psychiatrists, reflect. This term means the person’s ability to look at the situation, abstracting from his personal attitude to what is happening, and look for ways to solve the problem, implemented in these conditions.
2. The ability to experience any emotions and endure the associated stress
Do not run away and do not distance yourself from unpleasant emotions, while not allowing yourself to completely “absorb” yourself with them. In any situation, even an extreme, mentally healthy person finds the strength to hear the voice of reason, that is, to balance with the rational and emotional sides of his personality.
1. Balance in focusing on oneself and others
This refers to the ability to pursue personal goals, while taking into account the interests of others, or the desire to achieve a collective goal, when as self-interest will be secondary. Such a property of the human person is inherent only due to the ability to reason and self-sacrifice for the sake of loved ones. A person suffering from some kind of mental illness is unable to give up his interests or adjust his actions in accordance with the moral and ethical standards established in society or the needs of others.