Mental Health Criteria

2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43

I enjoy writing articles about healthy manifestations. About what you can strive for, what you can rely on. This article is one of those. We will look at the criteria for mental health based on the list of Albert Ellis - the founder of rational-emotive therapy.

A mentally healthy person, as opposed to a person suffering from a neurotic disorder:

• He puts his own interests at least slightly above the interests of any other person. First of all, he takes care of himself

• At the same time, he takes care not only of himself. He understands that he lives in society and respects its laws. Respects the rights of others and considers their interests. But not contrary to the first point

• Takes responsibility for his life

• At the same time, he does not seek to do everything himself. He cooperates with others and can ask for help. Asking but not asking for it. He does not expect others to help him. They can, but they shouldn't

• It gives oneself and others the right to make mistakes. He changes what he can change and accepts what he cannot change. If he does not like the behavior (his own or of another person), he is not inclined to condemn the whole person as a whole

• He does not perceive anything fanatically. Doesn't set hard rules for himself and others. Flexible and ready to change

• Accepts the idea of the uncertainty of the future. Understands that there are no absolute guarantees for anything

• Has at least one creative interest and is passionate about it

• Acts according to his feelings, but does not become their slave. Can adjust them in accordance with short-term or long-term goals

• Accepts himself. Does not measure itself in relation to the amount of achievement or what other people think of it. Seeks to enjoy life instead of constantly asserting himself

• Can take risks and do what he wants, even if the chance of success is not great. At the same time, he is bold, but not reckless

• He knows how to get pleasure from life, not forgetting that momentary pleasure is not worth the cruel retribution for him in the future

• Understands that absolute and total happiness is impossible. Accepts his limitations and does not seek to get rid of anything that hurts

• Doesn't blame other people or circumstances for your own self-destructive thoughts and actions

These criteria were formulated by A. Ellis as a basis for the formulation of rational, healthy beliefs. That is, those that allow a person to achieve their goals, as opposed to irrational beliefs that distort reality and lead to dysfunctional behavior. Which, in turn, prevents a person from achieving what he wants.

In my opinion, this list is a good opportunity to test your own attitude towards life, your habitual patterns and beliefs. Which inevitably affect what we achieve in life.