What is mental sickness? – Mental sickness centers essentially on a significant misalignment between reality and our perception of reality. This understanding is echoed in common parlance – when someone acts in ways largely disconnected from reality, we ask them, “Are you mad?” In severe cases, people may be deemed insane when their perceptions have little or nothing to do with reality: for example, people who regularly perceive non-existent things, as in hallucinations; or people who routinely perceive things radically wrongly, mistaking friends to be enemies.

Without getting into the technicalities of acute mental sickness, which may require medical treatment, let’s understand how we all may be prone to such sickness. Gita wisdom explains that our mind is affected by the modes, which are subtle psychological forces that shape the interaction between us as spiritual beings and the physical world we function in. A mind influenced by the mode of goodness perceives reality holistically, seeing both its material and spiritual dimensions. A mind affected by the mode of passion sees reality partially, being drawn almost compulsively toward the material side of reality and specifically toward that aspect of material reality which seems to be particularly enjoyable. And a mind afflicted by the mode of ignorance sees reality fragmentally and mixes it up with an unhealthily heavy dose of fantasy – as when a person drinks alcohol and imagines, “I am a king.” In fact, the Bhagavad-gita (14.13) specifies insanity as a characteristic of the mode of ignorance.

How can we protect our mental health? By regularly engaging in activities that foster the mode of goodness. One such powerful activity is studying the Gita, whose philosophical wisdom reminds us of the nature of reality and whose recommended practices realign us with reality.

One-sentence summary:

When our mind’s perception of reality diverges from reality, we become vulnerable to mental sickness.

Think it over:

  • What does mental sickness center on?
  • How do the modes shape our perception of reality?
  • How can the Gita help us protect our mental health?

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14.13: When there is an increase in the mode of ignorance, O son of Kuru, darkness, inertia, madness and illusion are manifested.

What is mental sickness?

To know more about this verse, please click on the image