What classifies a person as insane?
Before anything else, it’s crucial to acknowledge that the term “insane” lacks a precise technical definition. All conditions originating from the brain, regardless of their severity or manifestations, fall under the umbrella of mental illnesses. Pinpointing specific symptoms of insanity proves challenging due to the vast spectrum of individual experiences. Nonetheless, insanity typically manifests as a loss of self-control, marked by behaviors and thoughts diverging radically from the norm. Individuals may appear as strangers to themselves, exhibiting wholly unfamiliar mannerisms and speech patterns. Mental illnesses both precipitate and constitute insanity, blurring the lines between cause and effect. Identifying potential indicators of these conditions can aid in recognizing and addressing them early on. According to Pharm and Shaikh (2022), some common signs that may suggest the presence of mental illness include:
- Not feeling like themselves. Normally, this would be completely normal. However, when this persists, it is very possibly a sign of a mental illness.
- Sudden dramatic changes in someone’s personality that are uncharacteristic, such as anger, anxiety, or sadness, occur without seemingly any particular reason;
- Seeking fewer social interactions and isolation; canceling plans with friends, family, or anything in between;
- Feeling hopeless or overwhelmed is something that happens to everyone at some point. However, experiencing this sensation for long is both dangerous and might mean that you have mental illnesses.
- Obvious symptoms as well, such as depression, obsession, delusions or paranoia, excessive fear, dangerously frequent suicidal ideas, and even recurring physical problems like headaches.
Causes of insanity
The part of the brain that controls the things that are affected by mental illnesses is the frontal lobe, with little support from the temporal lobe. When there is a chemical imbalance severe enough to change the structure of those parts of the brain, that is when people will start to experience mental illnesses. One of them is cortisol, a chemical that is released while under stress. Another way of messing up the brain is, obviously, alcoholism. Unsurprisingly, alcohol has the perfect mix of chemicals that will slowly melt down myelin, the protective coating on the brain, and eventually gain access to the brain itself, then proceed to break up the parts of the brain that make it possible for people to feel love, responsibility, or regret. And drugs such as cocaine will have the same effect, but only much faster, because cocaine has a formula that is perfect to completely change the brain’s anatomy with very few uses (Bennett, 2016).
Another common trigger for mental illnesses is exposure to traumatic events, particularly during childhood. Despite seeming unrelated, this connection is rooted in the release of cortisol during and after such occurrences. Studies have shown that individuals who have endured trauma exhibit diminished gray matter in the brain (Bennett, 2016). This finding holds critical implications, as gray matter plays pivotal roles in emotional regulation and cognitive processing (Wisner, 2024). Traumatic experiences not only impact immediate psychological well-being but also have lasting effects on brain structure and function, potentially predisposing individuals to various mental health challenges later in life. Understanding the profound influence of trauma on neurobiology is essential for developing effective interventions and support systems for those grappling with mental illness stemming from traumatic experiences. Recognizing these links can aid in providing targeted and comprehensive care for individuals navigating the complexities of mental health recovery.
References
Bennett, A.,2016. What Makes People Go ‘Insane’. [online] Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/@Abbie_Bennett__/what-makes-people-go-insane-d25445fa1ea0 [Accessed 24 February 2024].
Pharm, D. and Shaikh, J.,2022. What Are the First Signs of Going Crazy? Mental Illness. [online] MedicineNet. Available at: https://www.medicinenet.com/what_are_the_first_signs_of_going_crazy/article.htm [Accessed 24 February 2024].
Wisner, W.,2024. What Does Grey Matter in the Brain Do? [online] Verywell Mind. Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-does-grey-matter-in-the-brain-do-7547412 [Accessed 24 February 2024].
