I was chatting with a neighbor recently in front of her apartment when another local passed. I've seen the woman many times and we usually smile or nod a greeting. That's the extent of our connection. Civility.
"She's bipolar, you know, " said my neighbor. No, I don't know, nor do I want to know the mental diagnoses of minor acquaintances. And while we're on the subject, how do you know? If you're her shrink, then shame on you for blabbing. If you're just a nosy neighbor then shame on you for gossiping about a very personal matter.
A friend was going through a rough patch and feeling down because of it. The group solution was to deem her condition "depression" and prescribe Prozac or whatever the drug du jour is.
Jeez, can't a person just be plain old sad anymore? You have to admit that sometimes life really sucks and feeling blue is the proper emotion. Trashy novels and mega-doses of Rocky Road will eventually bring a person around. Want to see someone far worse than you, just for a lift? Try watching daytime TV and be thankful you've not yet reached the low point of moaning to a national audience.
Remember freshman year when we took Psych 101? We felt utterly qualified to analyse family, friends and our pet cocker spaniel. Fast forward to 2010. Watching Dr. Phil is like Psych 101 without the term paper and exams. It hardly makes us qualified to slap a mentally dysfunctional label on anyone.
1 comment:
I totally agree with this. As a matter of fact, my husband told me the other day ....what's wrong with regretting the past? that is a total normal reaction to feeling bad about past misdeeds. Duh. And yes I agree about the gossiping factor. Shame on her for what she told you about that woman. None of her business. And I've never met anyone who had a life that was a bowl of cherries. Good one.
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