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What Is Normal, Anyway?

By HERWriter
 
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A new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has categorized undesirable but normal children's tantrums along with a variety of other previously normal states of being as mental disorders.

Mental health experts are uneasy with this new direction, believing it may well come to distort a proper understanding of serious mental illness. They fear that this can lead to unrealistically labelling enormous segments of society as being mentally ill.

Mental health experts are not the only ones who view this with a jaundiced eye. Theoretically, then, all of us could be seen as having mental disorders.

Some of us have felt a bit on the fringe of normal as things stood before this new publication. Where will we find ourselves now?

"The DSM is published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and contains descriptions, symptoms, and other criteria for diagnosing mental disorders. It is seen as the global diagnostic bible for the field of mental health medicine."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38430273/ns/health

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Jody Smith
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.