OK - so I was thinking about Mental Defect and wanted to talk about mental illness in regard to Hellenic ethics.

In theory - if one is living ethically and correctly, then the light of the Gods will shine upon you and life will go according to plan - not without bumps in the road, but if we are living well we should have the ability to face adversity, and overcome.

My question is how people with mental illness fit into this category.  If one is suffering from Major Depression, Personality Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, etc - it seems that brain function would make it difficult if not impossible for some people (even with mild psychiatric disorders) to make the correct decisions and judgements to be able to act ethically.

I've never felt that mental illness was a good excuse to act like a butt - but if there is a medical reason that may not be completely treatable through medication and cognitive therapy - how does an Ethnikoi Hellene try to live well when they are lacking the ability to be able to do so?

I know that Psychologists and Psychiatrists say that it is imperative that the person having trouble have a support system - I'm wondering if historically, the family helped a person with mental defect to make good decisions.

I just don't know if there is any historical information on how the mentally ill were treated in Ancient Greece.

_Lisa_ wrote on 05/28/09 at 04:17:42:

If I recall anything from my abnormal psychology class long ago, in archaic Greece and Rome there was the theory of the humours, and out of balance humours being the result in mental afflictions of mood and temperament to say the lest. If I recall, generally the person was treated with certain diets and exercise regiments; the asylum being for the more unmanageable ones, generally.

I am actually diagnosed with severe OCD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and it does get in the way. I was always wondering about this.

And I'm Bipolar 2. We run the gamut in our household.

The truth is, I still hold myself accountable to the same standards that I would if I weren't Bipolar. And, like my Glaux, I look to the Gods for the guidance and support.

I my self have ADD, if you met me you would be able to tell that it is the real thing. but until I found the gods i was even more distracted and lost. since finding them i have found it easier to focus and get my work done on time and manage my money and a whole bunch of other things.

One thing that Percy Jackson and the olympians had right was that ADD helps with battle reflexes...i know most of you don't like to hear that but as someone that has ADD it is true atleast for me and my brothers. i can take in everything that is happening during a paintball battle and adjust my teams and my own tactics accordingly. i am just giving an example of finding the gift amongst our curse. ( i believed that ADD helped with battles and fights long before Percy Jackson hit the scene)

Exactly. I never thought about that until today.

At least with my OCD, the house will never be disgusting or cluttered. And my anxiety... sure, I worry alot, but that's not really a bad thing.