In recent years, there has been increasing societal attention on mental illnesses, with conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, and bipolar disorder frequently discussed topics on the internet.
Despite this, most people's understanding of mental illnesses still remains at the stage of "knowing they exist," lacking a scientific and accurate comprehension. Some might believe that individuals with mental illnesses are simply those with "problems in their heads" who cannot communicate normally. Others may think that mental illnesses stem from the individual's emotional sensitivity or overthinking. I often come across comments online suggesting that after three months of hard physical labor, any mental illness would simply vanish.
In such a biased public opinion environment, many individuals suffering from mental illnesses may experience stigma and shame, feeling that their current suffering is entirely their fault, and they may be reluctant to seek help for fear of external discrimination. All of this ultimately exacerbates their mental health issues, plunging them into even deeper pain.
To genuinely assist those with mental illnesses, it’s necessary to help everyone, including the patients themselves, eliminate biases surrounding mental health. A recent psychological documentary on Bilibili titled "It's Bad Emotions, It's Okay" is an attempt to address this issue.
Poster for "It's Bad Emotions, It's Okay"
This film is a collaboration between Bilibili and the Shanghai Mental Health Center, featuring one or two mental health patients each episode. It documents their living conditions and interactions with family and mental health professionals, presenting a more authentic perspective on various aspects of mental health.
In this documentary, we see that mental health patients are not the incomprehensible "others" they are often perceived to be; some demonstrate remarkable cognitive abilities that can be surprising.
For example, in the first episode, the interviewee Li Youyang exhibits relatively severe symptoms, including auditory hallucinations (hearing a melody constantly replaying in her mind), visual hallucinations (seeing non-existent people), and self-harming impulses (feeling the urge to jump off a building), which caused her to drop out of school.
Simultaneously, Li Youyang possesses a clear understanding of her condition; she recognizes these as hallucinations and distractions of the mind, striving to control herself rather than letting them take over. She actively confides in her parents about the help she wants. Even in moments of conflict with her mother, she tries her best to manage her emotions and prioritize her mother's feelings.
Screenshot from "It's Bad Emotions, It's Okay"
If not for the prior introduction to Li Youyang's symptoms, one might perceive her communication with her parents as that of a highly empathetic individual who is capable of managing her emotions effectively.
Li Youyang’s reflections on mental illness resonate deeply: if she broke a bone, others would readily empathize with her pain, actively caring for her and understanding that her temporary inability to live as before is perfectly natural. However, if she were to face a mental illness, many would accuse her of "overthinking" or "making a fuss," unable to comprehend why she can't lead a normal life. The pain and life-altering effects brought on by mental illness often far outweigh those of a broken bone.
Screenshot from "It's Bad Emotions, It's Okay"
While Li Youyang might embody the image of the girl next door, in contrast, in the fourth episode, we meet Wenwen, an anorexia patient who is a gifted young girl. It’s rare to encounter a primary school student with such outstanding expressive, cognitive, and empathetic abilities.
When her parents argue, Wenwen actively engages with her father, soothing his emotions, as she understands he is the more emotionally unstable party; making her father feel acknowledged can prevent further conflict with her mother.
When questioned about her condition by the doctor, Wenwen can articulate her self-analysis very objectively and systematically. She is fully aware that she is protesting her father’s smoking and his constant quarrels with her mother by refusing to eat. She has even read extensively on the psychological classics of Freud and Jung and has taken copious notes.
Screenshot from "It's Bad Emotions, It's Okay"
Wenwen’s maturity and precociousness are astonishing; many Bilibili users have commented that, in their twenties, they still struggle to speak clearly, while she proves to be more logically coherent than a primary school student.
Through Wenwen's example, the documentary introduces a concept that many in the public might be unfamiliar with: viewing mental illness from a systems perspective.
Humans are social creatures, living within systems formed by other individuals (families, workplaces, schools, etc.). Each person is influenced by others and, in turn, influences those around them. Most systems maintain a stable state where each member has familiar roles and relationships. When the original stability is disrupted, some members may feel uncomfortable and yearn to return to the previous state, sometimes leading to mental illness as a means of restoring stability.
Wenwen previously employed calming responses to her father during their arguments to prevent escalation. When she realized her parents were on the brink of divorce and her usual tactics were ineffective, she might resort to the extreme measure of anorexia to stop the divorce.
Screenshot from "It's Bad Emotions, It's Okay"
It’s important to note that this is not suggesting that Wenwen is feigning illness; anorexia is indeed a legitimate condition. This does not imply that her parents' divorce is the sole cause of her anorexia, as mental illnesses often have complex origins. The systems perspective helps explain why some mental illnesses persist, and understanding this allows doctors to provide more effective treatment and reduce the likelihood of relapse.
It's similar to an individual accidentally breaking their leg and then realizing they receive more care from family members and a reduced workload. They might unconsciously prolong their recovery to enjoy the extra attention. But this doesn't mean they pretended to break their leg for that support.
Of course, not all mental illnesses serve as a means of maintaining system stability. The documentary also showcases another more familiar scenario: individuals living within systems that constantly oppress them may easily develop mental health issues.
Some patients grow up in unpredictable households where their beloved doll is destroyed with scissors by their mother simply because they couldn't speak a word of English. Others may experience immense pressure in high school, enduring surveillance from cameras, prohibited from even lifting their heads during self-study sessions, facing parental scolding for unsatisfactory grades. Some are drained mentally by grueling 996 or even 007 work schedules, where clients demand repeated revisions on projects indefinitely.
Screenshot from "It's Bad Emotions, It's Okay"
These experiences are deeply relatable, and it’s no wonder some viewers express in comments: "If I were in such an environment, I would also become unwell."
For ordinary people, gaining more insight into how systems impact mental health can foster greater understanding and acceptance of those with mental illnesses. It reinforces the notion that these individuals are not incomprehensible outsiders; rather, they are people who have encountered unfortunate hurdles in life, circumstances that can befall anyone.
For individuals grappling with mental illness, adopting a systems perspective can significantly alleviate their sense of shame. Many with mental health struggles are plagued by the confusion: "Is my current pain the result of my wrongdoing?" When they recognize the system's impact on their condition, they become more willing to seek help from others and actively cooperate in their treatment.
The documentary also illustrates the scientific treatment process for mental illness: finding professional psychiatrists for diagnosis, adhering strictly to medication regimens, and seeking therapy from counselors when possible. Often, family members must also adapt and change accordingly.
The documentary doesn’t explain the distinction between psychiatrists and therapists, so here's a brief introduction: psychiatrists can provide diagnoses and prescribe medication, which therapists cannot do. Therapists typically help patients cope with emotional issues through conversation, and their advantage lies in dedicating more time to patients and engaging in deeper discussions, continuously fostering changes in cognition and behavior.
Screenshot from "It's Bad Emotions, It's Okay"
If there is one regret regarding this documentary, it may lie in the limited presentation of the "treatment process," which can lead to misunderstandings of a "patient takes medication and receives counseling and is instantly cured." In reality, psychological therapy is a long and arduous journey, but due to the documentary's length and focus, it cannot fully depict this process.
Fortunately, the comments left by the first episode's interviewee, Yi Chen, provide additional insight into this process. Allow me to conclude with part of this message, wishing everyone the ability to coexist peacefully with their bad emotions.
