The Fine Line...

Oscar Levant once quipped, "There is a fine line between genius and insanity.  I have erased that line." 

DISCLAIMER:  Any resemblance to persons living or dead, except where noted, is purely coincidental.  :)

Until I started to write this, I had no idea who first stated the quote about "the fine line between genius and insanity", but I have used it all of my adult life to describe my brother.  Since then, I have come to know a number of people who seem to have one foot on either side of that line.  I believe that every person on the planet knows at least ONE person like that.  Sometimes, we call them simply "eccentric". 

What I have noticed about these people is that they are most always brilliant, in their own ways, but trapped in quirky behaviors due to what they believe about life.  Some are legends in their own minds.  Others are more modest--even reclusive.  One thing that they all have in common is certain anti-social behavior in that they don't seem to care what other people think of them.  They lack the need to conform to society's rules.  Some of the rest of us scratch our heads, wondering what makes these folks tick.  A few envy the eccentric ones, wishing they could live with such abandon, but knowing they can't.  It isn't in their nature.  Still, I believe to the core of my being, that those among us who are eccentric feel "different" somehow...and might have been bullied in life, or at the very least consider themselves outside of normal.  Regardless of the reasons, these people often end up isolated, depressed, self-medicated with drugs or alcohol, and living out their fears of abandonment or failure.

Once in awhile, these eccentric people cross the line and go "postal".  Then  people start screaming about who is to blame.  Didn't the parents see the problems?  Why weren't the police notified?  Who hid the fact that these people had issues???  Contrary to popular belief, going to jail does NOT provide psychological help.  The last time I looked, being a loner isn't against the law.  And even if you recognized that a loved one had mental problems, have you priced psychiatric/psychological services lately?  Insurance doesn't always treat mental illnesses in the same way that it treats physical illnesses. 

The absolute worst part is that, though families are aware of the problems, there is no real help for them.  Oh, you can get on the Internet and read all about mental disorders and how they can be treated, if you have the funds, but nowhere is there a manual about how to react when things happen.  Your loved one has Alzheimer's or dementia?  There is info about what to expect, but nothing about what to do about it.  You suspect that your loved one is about to do something bad?  The law can't do a thing about until he/she actually does.  Anxiety/Depression?  Our only inclination is to tell them to snap out of it, which only makes things worse.  Medicine isn't always the answer.

So what IS the answer?  I wish I knew!  I watch Dr. Phil a lot, and I know that many people who are suffering from one mental problem or another are met with offers of "resources" that would cost tens-of-thousands of $$ if they weren't on the show.  What about the rest of the world?  Is mental health important to us?  Does anyone understand?  Does anyone really care???