Disclaimer: I am NOT a psychiatrist or a psychologist. These are all just my own thoughts and observations.

Society these days seems to be an out-of-tune orchestra of mentally ill human beings roaming about the Earth looking for ways to fill the void. In some ways, that’s exactly what it is. But if you look at things from a different perspective, you will find that there is much more that you’re not seeing. The truth.

The truth is that mental illnesses are superpowers. The “ordinary” people of the world only want us to believe that people with mental illnesses are “sick” and need help. The truth is that people with mental illnesses are just a little more enlightened and gifted than the others. They have extra senses that defy the logic of what is known about contemporary biology and puzzle scientists everywhere. So science itself has deemed anything about the human brain that it just can’t figure out collectively as a “disorder.”

The meaning of disorder can be taken one of two ways.
1.) Something that needs to be put back into order.
2.) A necessary component in a complex equation.

I choose to see it as the second way. In order for progress to occur in humanity we need a dynamic, creative, robust mix of minds. We need a large group of people who all think the same way in order for the structure of society to be maintained. But we also need people who think differently mixed in to question everything, disseminate new ways of thinking, and inspire independent thinking and imagination. Disorder is critical to not only the progress of mankind, but its survival.

In a perfect world, people with mental illness would be elevated and given the right environment and tools they need to thrive and create new possibilities for the progress of mankind. Sadly, however, they are typically pushed aside and looked at as problems.

The rules under which our society is governed doesn’t like disorder. Those who govern our society like everything to be simple, cut, and dry. They seek control in order to protects THEIR ideas of how life should be. And because of that, they banish the gifted people of the world by labeling them as mentally ill.

Mental illness is in the eye of the beholder.

Insane, I know. All of this sounds absolutely insane.

But…I’m right.

My 8-year-old son was recently diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. He was causing disruption in class and had to be put on half days. He refused to learn math facts and spelling words. He was isolating himself and telling his teachers that he just doesn’t like people and would rather be alone.

I was not exactly shocked. My youngest boy has always been different. He has always gotten extremely over-stimulated during anything other than one-on-one interaction. Put him in a group, and it’s allllll over! He likes to enterain. He likes to make people laugh. He likes to be silly and creative. He has no problem ever telling anyone anything about themselves that he notices. He wants to connect. He wants to talk. He has a lot to talk about. He has ideas. He has pictures in his mind that he wants everyone else to see. He refuses to conform. He doesn’t like to waste time on anything that does not inspire him.

He is BRILLIANT!

The truth is, my boy does not have a mental illness.

He has a superpower.

He has the ability to see things for exactly what they are.
He has an extremely rare passion to learn about deep, meaningful topics.
He has the biggest heart in the world for animals and nature.

He has a sharp intution that allows him to perceive anything phony or negative. This is why he rejects involvement with so many people. He sees through the masks. He knows a person at their core immediately. He knows who is worth knowing and who is not for him within minutes of meeting someone new. And the kid is ALWAYS right.

He doesn’t “fit” in. And I’m super grateful for that. He’s not like most people who fall in line at every command. He doesn’t look to authority for answers….he looks within himself. He doesn’t make friends easily, because he is not willing to let just anyone with a smile on their into his little world; he looks for more than that.

The truth is, the only thing that is “wrong” with my boy is the fact that his mind cannot be controlled by anyone but himself. And the heirarchy of our society finds that super inconvenient.

A person who can’t be conditionally programmed is a threat to the system.

A person who can’t be conditionally programmed is a threat to the rule-makers.

A person who can’t be conditionally programmed is a threat to the government.

A person who can’t be conditionally programmed is a threat to industry.

A person who can’t be conditionally programmed is a threat to indoctrination of all forms.

People with mental illnesses do all of the above, and as a result are labelled as “ill” and treated like aliens. They are ostracized and made to feel inadequate or broken. They are cast out of standard cirlces and looked down upon.

The truth is…ordinary people are just asleep. They can’t see the things that “mentally ill” people can see. They are too distracted by pop culture and image and money and fame and attention. They are blinded by meaningless constructs while the “ill” are on a conquest for the deeper meaning of their own existence. And that’s ok. To each his own.

So what needs to change?

We as a society need to become more welcoming and accepting of different thought processes. We need to break the stigma that just because someone thinks differently they have a mental illness. We need to all come together and embrace diversity and find a place for everyone.

I will continue to believe that anyone who has ever been diagnosed with any kind of mental illness has rare gifts to share with this world. I will continue to encourage society to see things through different perspectives. And I will continue to proclaim that mental illness is a superpower.

To all of you out there who have been diagnosed with any form of mental illness, please know that there is nothing wrong with you. You’re beautiful and different from the rest. Don’t ever try to fit in. Because you are too special for that! Instead, learn more about yourself and the way you think and use it to your advantage. And ALWAYS use your superpowers for good!