Is Shyness the Start of Mental Illness?

The mental illness business continues to try and draw virtually everyone into their net. According to the referenced report, most mental illness begins around age 14 and is typically detected through "mild, easy-to-dismiss symptoms such as low-level anxiousness or persistent shyness . . ." Ah yes, if this is so, we are all sick. Mental illness now embraces approximately forty-six percent of the people surveyed by a recent study. We're getting closer and closer to having not only a majority of people mentally sick, but my guess is that the Mental Mob won't be content until we're all dubbed as struggling with or victims of mental illness. What is facinating about this report is that the suvey "excluded rarer illnesses such as schizophrenia and autism." Generations prior to our "enlightened" society knew that discouragement is not an illness. Persistent shyness may be fueled by pride and the fear of man. I know it was and often is in me. The Psalms reflect life at war with circumstances and victory won through an intense battle to trust in God. Rather than run to a doctor upon persistent days of discouragement, begin to consider the true needs of your heart (Philippians 4:6-9) and the practical application of the forgiveness of sin through Christ and the life of sanctification that follows.