Somebody

Mental (Health) lIness

A common situation I have often witnessed is a person "losing "face." A public  act that is condemned in both Chinese and Japanese society.

In Japan, the concept of "face" or mentsu refers to a person's public image and how well they fulfill their social role. It's a quality that can be lost, maintained, or improved, and it's important to constantly be aware of it in interactions. 

 
An embarrassment I experienced was from witnessing a dominant person directing and correcting another person.

Sometimes, it seems that an affirmative answer is all that is acceptable when someone, who allows no discussion or clarification, is settings boundaries.

I have learned that many people think in the declarative mode: of giving instructions,  without providing the listener any method of inquiry or clarification.

Therefore, I let the speaker embrace the moment; I believe an answer of "I understand," is not necessarily an agreement with method or policy. It can defuse the speaker's anxieties about multiple, unrelated factors; without the listener having to hear the many possible ways that the listener, and the world can't handle the problems of life.

Understanding that the speaker may be speaking [in their mind] to a former friend, instructor, parent or teacher, or student, the listener becomes a protected listener.

Some speakers do not hear very well. Therefore becoming intimidating.
Some speakers need a semi-military response:
"Yes, I will do it right now,"

Many underlying factors could be a part of the demands made by the speaker.
Some OCD people are often burdened by any word or action, statement or suggestion of "fault,"on their part.

Many autistic people, I have encountered, are talented, generous, and loving; even so, many psychotic threads of angst, contribute to their unpredictable behavior.

I am telling myself, that this is my inner message to write about mental health so  that those of us that  have fewer mental anger trigger points, learn how to help others, and ourselves, not to step on the "psycho-path."

I know that many people are skilled in dealing with people who cannot control some levels of emotions. Even so, we must help other relatives and friends learn how to navigate in this environment.

Many books are available for anyone who needs to learn about the physical and mental, and language aspects,  of mental illness. 

Learning about different countries, languages, and protocols, are essential before traveling. Learning about mental illness is a survival necessity in order to understand others and ourselves.

Sorry for the, perhaps pedantic approach, but I truly believe that many people are suffering with mental illness; yet little is being done to take that diagnosis out of the leper category.

Many people do not believe that they are "Somebody," and society has expanded that belief, resulting from "class envy."