One characteristic is the unexpectedness. For example, when someone believes something completely out of the ordinary like the story of the man thinking his cat could talk. Another is the naivete. In the story of the woman predicting the weather by curtain color, it shows a sort of innocent but wrong belief. Also, they often involve a person's unique perception that is different from the common sense, like the guy walking backwards for luck.
The main characteristic of funny mental stories is that they revolve around some sort of mental quirk or false perception. They can be about someone's superstitious belief, like the man walking backwards for good luck. These stories usually have an element of humor that comes from the contrast between the person's belief and the real world. They might also show the creativity of the human mind in coming up with these strange ideas, whether it's about a cat talking or predicting weather in an odd way.
A patient in a mental hospital was convinced that he was a great chef. He would gather up all kinds of random things like leaves from the courtyard and some old magazines and start 'preparing a grand meal'. He would stir the mixture in an empty bowl and offer it to other patients, saying it was his 'specialty dish'.
Mental health novels typically explore the invisible battles that people with mental health issues face. They can be very relatable for those who have similar experiences. The language used is often introspective. Take 'Turtles All the Way Down' for instance. The main character's thoughts and her way of dealing with her obsessive - compulsive disorder are shown through her internal monologues. Another characteristic is that they can raise awareness about different mental health conditions among the general public, as in 'Girl, Interrupted' which gives insights into life in a mental institution and the various disorders present there.
The stories in it probably have characters doing silly things. Such as a child trying to fit into a toy box because they thought it was a magic box that could take them to a new world. They are full of these kinds of comical and naive actions that make people laugh.
There was a group of soldiers in a remote outpost. To boost their mental health and relieve the boredom, they decided to have a 'funny pet' competition. They made pets out of whatever they could find in the area - a rock that looked like a dog, a stick that resembled a snake. They held races for their 'pets' and had a whole lot of laughs. This not only helped pass the time but also improved their mental state during a tough deployment.
Here's one. A woman believed that she could predict the weather just by looking at the color of her neighbor's curtains. One sunny day, she saw the curtains were a bright blue and she was sure it was going to rain. She went out with an umbrella and of course, it didn't rain. She looked so silly but it was a really funny mental story.
There's the story of a woman patient who thought she was a mermaid. She would lie on the floor and flop around, asking for a 'pool of water' to swim in. She would also sing made - up mermaid songs that were so off - key but so funny. She really brought a lot of laughter to the ward.
Mental health fiction novels typically explore emotions in great depth. They might show the range of emotions from despair to hope, as seen in 'It's Kind of a Funny Story'. Another characteristic is that they can be set in different environments, such as mental institutions in 'Girl, Interrupted' or normal daily life with an internal mental battle like in 'Turtles All the Way Down'. They also often have a message of empathy towards those with mental health issues.
Well, these books often have a focus on the journey of the characters dealing with mental illness. They might show the struggle, the setbacks, and the small victories. In 'Girl, Interrupted', we follow the main character as she tries to make sense of her condition and her place in the mental institution. Also, they tend to humanize the experience of mental illness. Instead of just presenting it as a medical diagnosis, they show the emotions, the relationships, and the daily life of those affected, as seen in 'I Never Promised You a Rose Garden'. And the narrative voice can be very unique, sometimes unreliable as in the case of some mentally ill characters trying to tell their own stories.
They usually incorporate real - life experiences. 'Girl, Interrupted' is based on Susanna Kaysen's time in a mental hospital. This connection to reality makes the stories more relatable. And they might have a sense of catharsis. As readers, we go through the characters' struggles, and by the end, there can be a feeling of release or understanding, like when Esther Greenwood in 'The Bell Jar' starts to find some hope.
Characteristics of fictional mental health books include the exploration of the impact of mental health on relationships. In 'The Silver Linings Playbook', the relationship between the two main characters is deeply affected by their mental health issues. They also tend to break stigmas around mental illness. 'Prozac Nation' by being so open about depression helps to make it more understandable and less stigmatized. And often, these books offer a glimmer of hope or a path to recovery, like in 'Turtles All the Way Down' where the main character gradually learns to manage her OCD.