The Myth of Mental Illness: Mindset Optimization

It’s fascinating how neuroplasticity, the brain’s remarkable ability to adapt and reorganize, is something we’ve had to rediscover rather than accept as a default understanding of ourselves.

Yet many people still believe that mental illness is a fixed condition even with all the evidence of adaptability that surrounds us, still struggle to believe in their capacity to change. Thankfully, modern neuroscience challenges these outdated notions that the brain is hardwired, the same with genetics, showing that humans have a far greater capacity for growth and change than once thought.

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity reflects the brain’s dynamic and "live-wired" nature—a term coined by Dr. David Eagleman in his book Livewired: The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain (2020). He uses this term to challenge the idea of the brain as a fixed electrical circuit, instead describing it as a constantly adapting system that rewires itself in response to experience. Unlike a hardwired machine, the brain is fluid and flexible, reorganizing its connections based on inputs, outputs, and feedback. This understanding has profound implications for human potential, showing that our brains are not static but continuously evolving throughout life.

Neuroplasticity thrives when changes are personally relevant, as this relevance triggers the release of acetylcholine, which facilitates attention and learning. As progress is made toward the intended goal, dopamine is released, boosting motivation and reinforcing the learning process.

Relevance exists on a spectrum of pleasure and pain, and where an experience falls on this spectrum influences how much input is required for learning. For example, touching a hot stove provides immediate pain, so only one lesson is needed to avoid repeating it. On the other hand, less painful experiences might require more time and repetition to internalize. Interestingly, pleasurable experiences also require fewer inputs to learn because you're more invested. For instance, when family members share something with you, the immediate joy and feedback often reinforce the learning, motivating you to repeat that action for the same experience. Pleasure doesn't always have to be immediate—it can also be tied to future rewards, which motivate effort and learning in the present.

There are however certain developmental stages that are crucial, and neglecting or missing them can make the brain’s ability to adapt or learn significantly more difficult, if not nearly impossible. This fluidity of development tends to slow down around the age of 25, when the brain is often seen as more crystallized or fully developed. However, this isn't just about brain structure—it’s also related to the fact that many individuals at this age, or those facing developmental challenges, have become fixed in routines, such as career, relationships, lifestyle choices, or caretakers doing everything for them.

They’ve developed a stable set of beliefs, values, and behaviors that have allowed them to navigate life and ensure survival. This stability reduces the need for novelty, which in turn diminishes motivation to develop new skills or make changes. Unless something disrupts their established life entirely, there is often little drive to pursue further development.

Brain Balance

This ties into the concept of brain balance, the ability to rewire and strengthen connections that may have been underdeveloped during critical periods of childhood development. One area where this understanding has gained momentum is through the work of Dr. Robert Melillo, a clinical neuropsychologist and leading expert in brain development. He introduced the concept of Functional Disconnection Syndrome (FDS) to explain various neurological and developmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, dyslexia, and OCD.

Dr. Melillo’s theory posits that these conditions often stem from a failure of proper communication or integration between different regions of the brain—particularly the left and right hemispheres—during early developmental stages. Unlike traditional models that focus on structural damage or isolated symptoms, FDS reframes these issues as problems of connectivity. When the hemispheres fail to synchronize effectively, it leads to developmental delays and dysfunctions.

The solution begins with addressing unintegrated primitive reflexes—automatic responses from infancy that, if not fully inhibited during development, can disrupt proper neural integration. By targeting these reflexes, the brain can progress through critical developmental stages, paving the way for improved connectivity. Dr. Melillo emphasizes the use of neuroplasticity through targeted therapies and exercises that promote hemispheric integration. These interventions include sensory stimulation, physical activities designed to enhance coordination and balance, and cognitive training to strengthen neural pathways. By restoring proper communication between brain regions, individuals can experience significant improvements in motor skills, attention, learning, and emotional regulation, ultimately achieving more balanced and effective brain function.

Mindset

This seems to prove the myth of mental illness that was presented in 1960 by Thomas Szasz, which I agree with his emphasis that mental illness is not a structural damage in the brain and what I call a mindset problem.

Mindset is usually the overlooked key to unlocking our full potential. It represents the current state and health of our psyche, shaping how we perceive and interact with the world. Typically, mindset is discussed in terms of two camps: fixed and growth. These correspond to opposing beliefs about reality and change—the fixed mindset aligns with a more pessimistic view, seeing abilities and circumstances as static, while the growth mindset embraces an optimistic perspective, believing in adaptability and progress aligning with the concept of neuroplasticity. This spectrum, ranging from pessimism to optimism, reveals how our mental framework dictates our outcomes.

Optimism is often misunderstood as simply a belief or blind enthusiasm. In reality, it’s an outcome—one that emerges when we experience less stress across different life domains and move closer to truth and understanding. This development is rarely immediate and often occurs through an unconscious process of growth, as individuals face and overcome difficult situations. Over time, these experiences become integrated into conscious understanding, allowing for a more optimistic and grounded perspective to take root.

However, what often blocks this natural growth is the attachment to “trauma”—or, more broadly, to negative experiences. “Trauma” is commonly associated with a lack of care or "love" during critical developmental periods, but it extends further to include a lack of guidance. This absence of learning and development creates gaps that manifest as challenges later in life that can cause more “trauma,” compounding stress and limiting growth.

For this reason, I find the terms "disruptions and disturbance" more appropriate than "trauma" when describing setbacks. While "trauma" often implies a fixed state tied to a specific cause, leaving a lingering reminder or scar that many attach to their identity, "disruptions and disturbances" better represents the issue. It reflects a disconnection or lack thereof in the system, caused by incorrect or incomplete inputs during development, which ultimately leads to distortions impacting decision-making and behaviour. If these disconnections, and distortions continue to build, the overall system can become corrupted, no longer functioning as it should. However, like everything else, it can be restored through the brain's inherent ability to adapt and reorganize via neuroplasticity, though may struggle so by itself.

Conclusion: Mindset Optimisation

The myth of mental illness often stems from outdated views that limit our understanding of human potential. Neuroplasticity offers a more empowering perspective, highlighting the brain's ability to adapt and reorganize throughout life. Rather than viewing mental illness as permanent or irreparable, we can see them as disruptions or disturbances in the system that can be corrected through targeted interventions. This reframing opens up new possibilities for growth and healing, emphasizing the role of mindset in shaping our outcomes.

A key component of this process is relevance. When we make the highest, most optimized version of ourselves our aim it sparks the brain's natural drive to learn and adapt everything relevant to achieving it. This relevance enhances the brain’s capacity to reorganize and improve, accelerating healing and development, overcoming past disruptions or disturbances, breaking free from limiting beliefs, and pursuing a life of continuous development, resilience, and fulfillment. In turn, this creates a positive feedback loop, driving continuous growth towards an optimized mindset.

An optimized mindset is achieved when we master our psyche, developing optimal internal connections and communication that allows us to think clearly, regulate emotions, and make the most informed decisions. This mastery enables us to have the optimal grip on reality, aligning our actions and thoughts with the natural laws of the world and the dynamics of the social environment, driving both personal growth and stronger interpersonal relationships.

However, it is not easy to go on this path towards mastery alone and professional help can assist to achieve this result of optimisation more efficiently, most people may even suggest "you see a therapist."