The Myth of Mental Illness, written by Thomas S. Szasz argues that mental illness is theory that society uses to explain irregularities in a person. How society uses the term mental illness as an excuse for its imperfections, a theory that is out of date and over used. The theories applied by Szasz all have their limitations and in a few ways I would disagree. Although Szasz does bring a few arguments that I would agree with including the impact of stressing cultural norms. In essence Szasz raises the question, what is mental illness and why are so many of us mentally ill?

What is mental illness? Szasz argues that mental illness is not an illness but timeless struggle within ourselves of how we should live. Another view of mental illness published by Nolen-Hoeksema reads as follows: "Mental illness criterion implies that there is a clear, identifiable physical...