caile-girl's favorite alternative-medicine web sites

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The Icarus Project | Navigating the Space Between Brilliance and Madness

Jan 9, 5:21am

14 reviews

health, mental-health, psychology, alternative-medicine
http://www.theicarusproject.net/

"The Icarus Project envisions a new culture and language that resonates with our actual experiences of 'mental illness' rather than trying to fit our lives into a conventional framework. We are a network of people living with experiences that are commonly labeled as bipolar or other psychiatric conditions. We believe we have mad gifts to be cultivated and taken care of, rather than diseases or disorders to be suppressed or eliminated. By joining together as individuals and as a community, the intertwined threads of madness and creativity can inspire hope and transformation in an oppressive and damaged world. Our participation in The Icarus Project helps us overcome alienation and tap into the true potential that lies between brilliance and madness."

It's sad that we even need this type of organization, but our society is horribly non-progressive in its approach to psychiatric and psychological "issues" which probably would not even be "issues" if society wasn't hard-wired and constantly indoctrinated to believe that all human beings should act, think and behave a certain way. Screw society's expectations! (And the drugs that turn us into hollow zombies while lining the pockets of bureaucrats and avaricious corporate industries.) Yes, Van Gogh cut off his ear and died penniless in an asylum. But he will be remembered for his gifts to the world long after many of the "Dilberts" of society have come and gone and been forgotten. How many other "Van Goghs" have suffered a similar fate, only they were not even lucky enough to have the support and framework with which to truly express themselves? There is nothing wrong with being a "Dilbert" ~ society would be crippled without them. But how much has humanity lost because others are dismissed and left to a life of poverty and institutionalism for being "crazy" when they are just wired differently? In the not-too-distant past, left-handed people were considered to be flawed and evil. They often had their left hands tied behind their backs and were forced to write and live as right-handed people because that's what was "normal." What if everyone today who had vision problems were, instead of given proper eyewear and treated the same as non-impaired people, thrown into horrible "wards" and given drugs not to make them see better, but to numb their frustration at not being able to see properly and to force them to accept that that's just how life will have to be for them. Think of what a stupid, huge waste of human resources that would be. Why, then, is it still this way for the "Van Goghs" of this world? For those of us who deal with things of this nature, this organization is an empowering resource. One that does not stigmatize or belittle, but sees past the misguided labels and misconceptions to the unique and extraordinary potential these unique people possess. It encourages people to have a more positive perspective and to find ways to use their differences to accomplish things others cannot. And most importantly, it gives hope ~ by showing that there are actually people out there who don't just smile and nod politely while secretly judging; they understand.