| What is termed 'madness' or 'mental illness' is for | | | | and it that suffering is the state of the world which |
| some the only means for expression of their being | | | | is mired in greed and attachment. The one deemed |
| lost and confused in a world which has caused them | | | | 'mad' for once has accomplished a rare task- they |
| deep hurt and pain. Such is not disease but behavior | | | | have completely detached. But this detachment is |
| with metaphorical meaning. There has been received | | | | only from the typical standards of the world. They |
| through life mixed messages and placement into | | | | remain haunted by the visions of their previous life. |
| situations where regardless of the option they | | | | They cannot escape it, and thus they become |
| choose they felt damned. They seek to break out | | | | anxious and paranoid that something or someone will |
| from the reality which has only caused them distress. | | | | pull them back to that painful existence. At times, |
| The development of hallucinations and delusions are | | | | rage comes forward as the reaction to challenges, |
| all metaphors for the very real demons they have | | | | but who would not be outraged if their voice was |
| encountered in disordered society. | | | | suppressed and they became the scapegoat for the |
| The inner mind, the voice within us, becomes | | | | problems of their families or those around them? |
| amplified, and becomes 'possessed' with the demons | | | | Those deemed 'mad', feeling always alone, depart to |
| coming forward from the trauma and distress which | | | | a world where they remain alone from people, yet |
| has been encountered. Rebellion against the system | | | | may create for themselves beings who give them |
| of things becomes self-destructive as the person | | | | comfort and solace. This is really the end of their |
| seeks to send a message to the world of their | | | | search, to simply be accepted and loved. But here |
| distress, but it remains unheard. Each coping | | | | too lies a problem, for when their lives have been |
| mechanism that has been employed has often led to | | | | devoid of love and they receive unconditional love, it |
| failure and not brought them out of the unlivable | | | | becomes like an overwhelming fire that consumes |
| situation that is their life. However, the catharsis of | | | | them. They have never been loved, so how can |
| this pain and grief can go in two directions- it can be | | | | they respond to an outpouring of love? |
| misery and existential death, or it can be | | | | When all they knew was that oppression and |
| transformative. | | | | coercion was said to be because 'we love you', when |
| Through the pain and struggle, through the breaking | | | | 'love' really was only about control, how can the |
| out of the 'typical reality' one can journey through | | | | person then understand genuine love? Once again, |
| various modes of altered consciousness. Many | | | | the confusion sets in. To reach the person who has |
| deemed 'mad' speak of the supernatural. They have | | | | been deemed 'mad', we cannot overwhelm. Our |
| sought every attempt to reach out and create | | | | sincerity will not be enough, for there trust has been |
| meaning. If they can be helped by a loving, | | | | shattered time and time again. It is only through |
| supportive network to navigate through this state of | | | | entering their world for what it is, by joining in, and |
| confusion and the various realms of altered | | | | learning to speak the language, can we ourselves |
| consciousness towards rebuilding and reconstructing a | | | | begin to understand the experience of these |
| life of meaning, then they can come forward to a | | | | individuals. It is only by this joining in that the person |
| recovery that gives them valuable insight about | | | | may have the chance for their journey known as |
| human nature and who they really are and the reality | | | | 'madness' to reach a transformative ending towards |
| of the impermanence of this life and the world | | | | recovery. |
| around us. They will find that suffering is an inevitable, | | | | |