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Re: I'm having trouble with what normal means...

Posted by SLS on May 31, 2012, at 22:08:33

In reply to I'm having trouble with what normal means..., posted by sleepygirl2 on May 30, 2012, at 19:04:03

> I'm "normal" I think.
> I want to get off meds, and I think I'll be ok, but I think withdrawal can be tough. I know it's a subjective thing, but I don't want anyone to think... 'Uh oh, crazy girl', because I get bitchy about something stupid, or act too silly.
>
> It is what it is....


A question...

What is it that is to be judged as being normal or abnormal? A thought? A feeling? A behavior? An opinion? A test score? A whole person?

If a whole person is normal in every way, doesn't that make him statisticaly abnormal?

What are some of the synonyms used to define the word "normal"?

1. Statistical calculation.
2. Common.
3. Healthy
4. Sane
5. Majority
6. Conventional
7. Right
8. Natural
9. Good

What are some of the synonyms used to define the word "abnormal"?

1. Statistical calculation.
2. Uncommon.
3. Unhealthy
4. Insane
5. Minority
6. Unconventional
7. Wrong
8. Weird
9. Bad

I'm sure there are many more words that people associate with these two terms. I think of the word "normal" as meaning:

1. A statistical assessment of the occurrence of a phenomenon.
2. In accord with nature.
3. Healthy.

I'm still thinking...

How do you define the words "normal" and "abnormal"? What synonyms would you use in their place?

For some reason, I don't get hung up with these words anymore. I am normal in some ways and abnormal in others. I am a work in progress, and am very happy with the space that I currently occupy. It is abnormal (statistically) that I should have bipolar disorder. I guess it is normal (healthy) that I should not want to.

I guess I ramble here because I think many of us give too much power to the words "normal" and "abnormal", and thereby allow others to hurt us or define us. I have no intention of letting others' use of these words affect my sense of self. It took work to get to this point of self-acceptance. It is a work in progress.


- Scott


Some see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.

- George Bernard Shaw

 

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poster:SLS thread:1018941
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