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Mentally healthy acquaintances

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 5:11 pm
by krebscout
As far as you can tell, who is the most mentally healthy person you personally know?

Re: Mentally healthy acquaintances

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 10:08 pm
by Portia
My little sister. (My brother is smarter.)

Re: Mentally healthy acquaintances

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 7:42 am
by Emiliana
My college roommate/best friend.

Re: Mentally healthy acquaintances

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 12:14 pm
by Whistler
Probably my mentor psychologist in my undergrad years. Or my RS president.

Re: Mentally healthy acquaintances

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2012 8:01 pm
by NerdGirl
Probably my dad.

Re: Mentally healthy acquaintances

Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 12:34 am
by bobtheenchantedone
...

How are you defining "mentally healthy"? The person I know who I consider the most mentally healthy is also the one who struggles the most with depression. I also know several people who don't have any diagnosable mental issues (depression and the like) but who have very messed up ways of thinking nonetheless.

Re: Mentally healthy acquaintances

Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 6:17 am
by Imogen
my oldest brother

Re: Mentally healthy acquaintances

Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 8:01 am
by NerdGirl
bobtheenchantedone wrote:...

How are you defining "mentally healthy"? The person I know who I consider the most mentally healthy is also the one who struggles the most with depression. I also know several people who don't have any diagnosable mental issues (depression and the like) but who have very messed up ways of thinking nonetheless.
I don't think having a mental illness excludes someone from being the most mentally healthy. I would define it as someone who is aware of their mental health and actively does things to try to maintain and improve it. To make an analogy with physical health, you could know someone who was in their 80s and has had cancer and arthritis and diabetes and a previous heart attack, but they eat a really healthy diet and sleep 8 hours a night and take the right medications to manage their health conditions and do all kinds of exercise and run marathons. They might be the healthiest person you know, even though they have health problems, because they are managing them and trying to improve their health. I would say that person is healthier than a 20 year old who doesn't have any health problems (yet) and is a normal weight and has normal blood pressure and all of those things, but who only eats junk food and never exercises and stays up all night surfing the internet instead of sleeping. That's how I think about it, anyway.

Re: Mentally healthy acquaintances

Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 11:46 am
by Zedability
NerdGirl wrote: a 20 year old who doesn't have any health problems (yet) and is a normal weight and has normal blood pressure and all of those things, but who only eats junk food and never exercises and stays up all night surfing the internet instead of sleeping.
That's me! Also, that's probably a pretty decent analogy for how I approach my mental health sometimes...