Here is the definition of abnormal:

deviating from what is normal or usual, typically in a way that is undesirable or worrying.
"the illness is recognizable from the patient's abnormal behavior"
synonyms:unusual, uncommon, atypical, untypical, nontypical, unrepresentative, rare, isolated, irregular, anomalous, deviant, divergent, aberrant, freak, freakish; More
antonyms:normal, typical, common

By your argument nobody is normal. And I would agree with that! That's the first thing that makes the word abnormal silly for describing MI. Our culture says everyone should be normal and shame tells us we are not. NOBODY is immune to these feelings. In fact we live in what is called a culture of scarcity where nobody is satisfied with what they are or have. We see ourselves as abnormal and not in a good way.

Nobody knows for sure all MI is even >because< of the brain. This is why a blanket statement is troubling. There is a lot of evidence what happens in the gut is as important or more. In fact there are people that refer to the intestinal system as a "second brain". Btw, our knowledge if our intestinal system is about as great as our knowledge of the deep oceans. I know a lot about neuroplasticity. Fascinating thing. Does not mean the cause of MI is an abnormal brain. The fact that you have a flexible brain might point more to a healthy brain than an unhealthy brain. You can adapt. For years they worked on chemicals in the brain. Now it is neurology. There may be something to it but it is not proof. There is no doubt in my mind they are learning a lot and there is a lot to be gained. But you can't say that it is "abnormally developed brains" when there is a possibility it could be diet (for example). Honestly, I don't think there will be a biological "test" like there is for aids. It think that idea is the continuation of the mythical magic bullet. I think MI is a wholistic illness as is the solution. People who get better do much more than take meds. There are a lot that get better without meds. I don't know anybody that gets better on meds alone. To quote the title of an article "your brain is a rainforest". So is your body. I do feel they are intimately connected when it comes to MI. And I don't mean just the bio portion of the brain. I mean your whole body.

PTSD is an abnormality? PTSD happens when somebody experience event(s) so atrocious to them that their mind and body go into defense mode. I can't see that as abnormal. It is a normal reaction that needs special treatment. If I had been raised in a more nurturing environment therefore avoiding a hospital stay and pills would I still have an abnormal brain? IMO, a genius is not abnormal. They are exceptional, unique. They have challenges just like the rest of us too. Some of them are part of being a genius. I am pretty sure a genius would not appreciate being called abnormal.

Disease, illness, disorder. Those are all words that do not define the individual. Abnormal does. There has been much made about saying "I am" vs "I have". Iow, I am bipolar or autistic. It gives more importance to the disease than the individual. This is an important distinction. Besides not needing yet another word I don't think we need that one in particular. When somebody is in a shame storm what is the thing they say to themselves? "I am abnormal". It is a derogatory, self mutilating term when used that way. Words like that really do matter. You're taking this down a very bad path, IMO.

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