A Bill of Rights for Neurotics

We hold that all people are created cockeyed and endowed with the inalienable right to be alienated

by Gerald Grow

Just about every school of psychology and every movement for social reform that I have come into contact with ends up defining me, my friends, those I love, everyone I know, all the people I have ever seen, heard of, or read about — as neurotic.

I can conclude only that civilization is maintained by collective neurosis; all great works of art and literature were created by near-psychotics; science is a special breed of madness; religion a form of insanity; psychology a lunatic asylum for professionals; and social reformers are — well, what more can I say?

Everywhere I turn, people aggressively present the imperatives of psychological health and social purity: You should be open! You should meditate! You should be honest! You should be clear! You should own your projections! You should take responsibility! You should work out your problems! You should follow this or that teacher, therapist, or guru. You should repent. You should become aware. You should raise your consciousness. You should be anti-racist! You should be resilient! You should ceaselessly work for social justice. You should turn on, grow, hang loose, be more loving, change…