This can also be true of mental illness. For example, with an individual who has a neurocognitive decline such as Alzheimer’s disease, it is imperative to acknowledge that there is a problem. It is just as beneficial to retain hope. It is about hope that with early diagnosis and analysis the condition can be treated and even reversed. It is also important to never forget the other side – the negative side. If one were to always live fully in a place of hope, they would neglect the psychological and medical things they must do in order to stay on top of those issues. There is a yin and yang relationship to everything. Learning about and appreciating Polarity, not just with diseases and mental health, but also in our personal and professional lives can be extremely beneficial.
We will offer a quick example of Polarity management where stigma shame and guilt can sneak in and rear their ugly heads. Let’s say you have an amazing job, and you give it your all and have made huge strides in your field. With that comes pride and honor and joy. However, the thing that has taken all your attention will eventually move you to the downside of it. The downside is that you no longer see your friends or have time to be with your family. This is where shame, guilt, and stigma start to break in. Does this then turn into depression, anxiety, and eventually a mental illness? The negative downside can be avoided by being aware of the role you play in your own life. What does this all mean if anything, and where does this leave us? How do we engage in a balanced view regarding mental illness and stigmas? To answer these deep and often existential questions, we turn to the wisdom offered by Thomas Nagel (1987) who has written a book called What Does it all Mean?
