Shakespeare on Mental Illness

emotiontechnology:

Is mental health a self guided practice as Shakespeare’s Doctor claims or is it
part of a larger effort of care? There’s a fine line between “just get over it” ideology and the notion that finding inner strength is the first step.
…

Macbeth: How does your patient, doctor?

Doctor: Not so sick, my lord, as she is troubled with thick-coming fancies that keep her from rest.

Macbeth: Cure her of that! Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased, pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, raze out the written troubles of the brain, and with some sweet oblivious antidote cleanse the stuffed bosom of that perilous stuff which weighs upon her heart.

Doctor: Therein the patient must minister to himself.

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