by Eugene M. Walter
MENTAL health is a priceless possession. But today all too many are losing this most precious gift.
In the United States, one in ten are mentally ill or suffer from emotional instability and less serious mental disorders in some degree. A similar situation - though usually less serious - exists in other nations of our modern Western society.
But WHY?
Is it natural to be mentally or emotionally ill?
Modern Man has thought that if he could have high living standards, a good income, more leisure time, education, and the freedom to do as he pleases including sexual freedom - he would automatically be happy.
Today more people are experiencing these conditions than ever before. And the result?
"Instead of mental health, these conditions have led to an unprecedented increase of mental disease, and even to new forms of mental disorder .... " So said Dr. Ludwig von Bertalanffy, noted Canadian psychiatrist, before 400 doctors and psychiatrists gathered at a widely acclaimed "Symposium on Schizophrenia," held in Shreveport, Louisiana some months ago.
Something is dearly missing in Modern Man's pursuit of happiness and peace of mind. Something is causing his appalling mental illness. But what?
Dr. von Bertalanffy went on to explain: "One may say it is the stress of modern life that leads to mental disturbance, and certainly this is true in individual cases. But it is still no good as an explanation in general.
He then showed that World War II "in Europe imposed a stress Incomparable." Business, homes and marriages were disrupted; hunger and fear of death were ever-present; and political suppression was ruthless. But in spite of all this, psychoses and neuroses "decreased and improved, instead of the expected opposite."
And so it has been many times throughout history ~ Times of stress and trial have often brought out the best that is in man. Such times can strengthen character and actually improve mental health.
On the other hand, if menta l and emotional weakness is already present (and deeply rooted, but has been submerged, stress may bring this weakness to the surface and expose it. If a person is incapable of coping with this stress, it may be the factor which triggers serious mental and emotional disorders.
But stress is not the basic cause of mental disorder. Many people have proved that it is possible to successfully withstand stress - including those unusual pressures of our hectic modern world - without "going to pieces."
But if stress isn't the primary reason for mental illness, what is?
And why does stress strengthen some people and break others?
What makes the difference? Comments by a well-known doctor at the symposium give a valuable insight into these questions.
Dr. Robert Prall is a leading child psychiatrist and the father of five children. In a personal interview he told PLAIN TRUTH reporters:
"I am a firm believer in discipline. I don't mean spanking a child all the time, but making children behave themselves is a thing that can go a long way in preventing a lot of emotional problems and particularly delinquency problems."
"Delinquency begins in the home, very early in life. The child who runs wild at three or four is the juvenile delinquent at 17. Sensible child "rearing wipes out delinquency."
Dr. Prall says that "freedom of expression" child rearing has gone too far. "There are too many people," he says, "who read articles by child psychiatrists and child psychologists and think they don't want their child to grow up 'inhibited' or 'repressed.' They let the child 'get away with murder' and go overboard in terms of permissiveness."
"Parents today can't say no. But good mothers and fathers say no. They say enough is enough. They set reasonable bedtimes for the little three- or four year- old and then make him go to bed. Likewise, they give teen-agers a time to come in."
And what does all this have to do with mental illness? It has everything to do with it!
Mental and emotional discipline must be learned. These vitally important character traits need to be taught to children by parents beginning at a very early age.
But today, because of foolish permissive ideas, relatively few parents teach their children mental and emotional control. Then when the child grows up and is faced with adult responsibilities, it is too much for him. He cracks under the pressure. This is one important reason why there is such an alarming increase in mentally and emotionally disturbed young people.
It seems that about the only place many parents put any pressure on their children any more is in academic matters. It's a strange paradox, but parents who are utterly permissive with a child's social and emotional life can be very severe in the academic demands they make of their children.
And why do parents have this warped approach?
Because the almighty dollar or pound is the parents goal in life. And they relate high grades with statu s, a good future job and a high income for their children. So they pressure their children in this one area of their life and neglect nearly all others!
Dr. Prall says that "too much academic pressure is put on children today while the parents neglect training the 'whole child.' This causes capable children with high IQ's to rebel, develop emotional blocks, and drop out of school and society."
Permissiveness breeds mental problems. Its just that simple. Society today is beginning to reap the penalty for this false philosophy.
But there is a second - and even more basic - cause that goes "hand in hand" with permissiveness in creating today's widespread mental and emotional sickness.
If the world really grasped the purpose and meaning of life, we would no be suffering mental and emotional sickness as we are today. We would have a real GOAL in life - both individually and collectively - and would be striving with vigorous purpose to achieve that goal. When stresses and difficult situations arise from time to time as they inevitably do - we would understand the reason for such tests. And we would overcome instead of succumb.
We would know what man is, why we are here, how to achieve that purpose. We would know where we are going. We would understand the laws which govern happiness and promote wellbeing.
But today we have lost our way. We have rejected the only Source that can give the answers to the big questions of life. And we are breaking with seeming impunity those inexorable laws which regulate human conduct and guarantee our well-being. We have substituted all kinds of vain and harmful pursuits for the true values.
And then we wonder why we are mentally and emotionally disturbed!
Take, for example, the current drug craze.
Today we take an aspirin for headache, a pill to go to sleep, a tablet to wake up, an alkalizer for an upset stomach, and an unending stream of cigarettes, coffees, cola drinks, etc. to meet various stresses throughout the day. We seem to believe that these things can meet every need in life.
Some even seem to believe that drugs can meet religious needs!
Dr. Albert Moraczewski, who participated in the Symposium as an expert on drugs, said: "Everyone yearns for God, but today's young people don't find this yearning fulfilled in religious circles so they turn to drugs .... Some have been told drugs will answer the questions of 'Who am I?' and 'What is the meaning of the world?' But this is a false road which leads to despair."
As Dr. Moraczewski went on to explain, it sometimes also leads to modern forms of witchcraft. Cults of witches and wizards are springing up in many cities, often in or near the areas of drug activity. Such experimenting can lead to the most serious kind of mental tragedy (read our articles on spiritism). Yet this is the destructive path some are choosing.
Permissiveness and lack of a true goal result in failure to understand the purpose of life - and the laws which govern this purpose. Since this is the cause, then the CURE is to find the meaning of life. When one knows the purpose of life, then one can see hi s or her problems in true perspective. And long before a problem becomes serious enough to cause mental illness it can be solved. But is this the cure being used on the mentally ill today? (An article of possibly related interest may be What is the Meaning of Life? There is also a video you can watch titled What is the meaning of your life?)
Doctors and psychiatrists treating the mentally ill admit that they do not have the answers to the big questions of life. Therefore it would be unreasonable to expect them to provide their patients with this information or to show them how to apply it. They must use other methods of treatment - methods which treat the effect, not the cause.
One such method is psychoanalysis. Here the patient lies on the couch and tries to explore his subconscious mind to see if he can discover what is really bothering him. In other words, he looks inside himself for the answers. But that's where the problems are - not the answers! He must look OUTSIDE himself - to the One who created him - to find the answers.
Another method is to use "shock treatments." But listen to this candid admission by Dr. Wilfred Dorfman, eminent doctor and writer. He told the Symposium: "I would like to go on record by saying that electric shock treatment does produce damage to the brain - and it is not only temporary." He went on to explain that he has known many patients - including some who today are doctors and psychiatrists - who are suffering such damage. He said he has seen people who now have "blank spots" in their memory from only three or four treatments - and he can only imagine the effects on those who have had 30 or 40 such treatments (which is not as uncommon as you might think)!
Drugs are another widely used treatment. But as any of the doctors will admit, "Any drug has side effects. The problem is to find the right drug for the right patient." This is largely a process of experimentation. The doctor using drugs feels he has to weigh the disadvantages with the possible advantages.
Some doctors use yet other methods of treatment, or various combinations of treatments. But NONE of these methods treats the cause, none teaches the patient what life is all about so that he can once and- for-all overcome his problem. Like mental health itself - the knowledge of why we are here, what is life's goal, how do we achieve it, is priceless, yet free! You can have it by {reading} our free booklet The Seven Laws of SUCCESS...
Don't YOU become a victim of mental and emotional illness. Prevent such a tragedy by resolving to learn the purpose and meaning of life now.
Walter EM. WHY so much MENTAL ILLNESS? Plain Truth, August 1969, pp. 39-41.
I would add that diet and environmental toxins probably play a greater role in mental illness in Western societies than the above article emphasizes. But that is all the more reason to pray "Thy Kingdom Come" (Matthew 6).
Some articles of possibly related interest may include:
ADHD diagnoses increasing Is diet a possible contributing factor in the increasing number of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder?
Air Pollution More Than Doubles Autism Risk There is an increase in the number of childrens diagnosed with autism. Is environmental pollution a factor?
UK Study Supports Daniel Diet Daniel and his companions looked better eating more vegetables and avoiding strange meats. Has modern science confirmed this?
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it? Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near?
What is the Gospel? True religion should be based upon the true gospel. What are some of the different gospels and where did they come from? Do you believe the true or a false gospel?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about?
Just What Do You Mean the Kingdom of God? A booklet that was written by Herbert Armstrong answers questions about the Kingdom.
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