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ON MENTAL ILLNESS: Lapses in Judgment

Jack Bragen
Friday June 10, 2016 - 09:11:00 AM

As someone who suffers from a severe psychotic disorder, even while medicated and in other treatment, my better judgment is sometimes out the window. This affects numerous aspects of my life. As an example in recent times, (even after getting most of my problems ironed-out) sometimes I have sent emails that I would have been better off never sending.  

Yet, at the same time, I question myself a lot, and sometimes this is excessive. People with a psychotic disorder sometimes have difficulty knowing what is real and what isn't, and this includes times when in treatment. There doesn't exist a "wisdom pill."  

Medication slows the thinking and this allows the brain to process thoughts more and not to instantly accept every thought as the truth. However, the best way for me to gauge what is real, and what isn't, is often by "syncing" my mind to the beliefs of non-afflicted people. 

In the U.S., and in other countries, most people do not have a reliable way of finding reality, regardless of mental illness or no mental illness--this, I believe, is one of the rules of human nature. Most people simply try not to stand out as looking like a crazy person. There is no rule that says if you are not mentally ill you will know the truth.  

(In oppressive countries, beliefs that are commonly accepted as truth are likely to be vastly different from what is accepted in the U.S. and in most democracies. In those countries, you could be taking your life in your hands if you express a belief that differs from those that governments allow you to have.)  

Since I also suffer from the trait of thinking independently, it is doubly difficult to make sure I am not stepping out on thin ice too often or too far. However, my accuracy of thought, when it is in its final product, is probably better than that of most nondisabled people. 

Because of my condition, I often suffer from irrational fears. And, I have rational fears. The problem with this brain disorder is, for one thing, that I don't tolerate strong emotions very well, yet I tend to generate a lot of them.  

My insight (of the fact that my thinking isn't always correct) is important. And, most people, including nondisabled people, would benefit from such insight about themselves.  

However, according to scientists, schizophrenia has a considerable effect on the limbic system. The limbic system in the human brain is considered, among other things, the seat of judgment; it produces many of the higher functions, and it is key to functioning as a competent person.  

There is hope. I am in my twenty-first year of solid recovery. This is allowing me to teach myself more about the deficiencies of my mind, and to install compensatory thinking. I have learned to act on impulse less often. I have learned to recognize it when my mind isn't functioning quite right; and at those times, I keep a distance from my laptop, and I limit my activities.  

Long ago, I installed what could be dubbed "failsafe" systems in my mind, patterns that I have etched, that prevent me from doing anything that would get me into massive trouble. Now I am trying to hone my thought processes. I am also up against phobias and other problems that I haven't yet tackled, but at some point I will get to that.  

Judgment in those who suffer from psychosis is often impaired. Yet, we can learn to compensate, and to have correct judgment most of the time. We can achieve this through trial and error, through intentional self-training, and through accessing the higher functions.  

And when none of this works, it helps to bounce your ideas off someone you know to have reliable judgment. This is applicable to non-afflicted people nearly as much.  


Please do check out my self-help manual, my memoir, and my science fiction collection at www.lulu.com. If you have questions or comments, or if you need to contact me for a reason other than getting advice, please email the editor, and she will forward that to me.