on nervous breakdowns

I have the greatest respect for nervous breakdowns, and those who have had such experiences are often among the subtlest and most fascinating souls I know. Emotionally high-strung people are not fashionable in the current decadent phase of the “critical” era, which sees much greater value in jaded and cynical reserve than in sincerity, whether in intellectual or emotional life. But personally I much prefer those who are easily upset.

Why? Because they care about things. They may overreact sometimes and cause you a headache, but how long does it really take to offer them comfort and get them to see the world rightside-up again? Maybe 45 minutes on the phone with them is all it takes, and they’re purring like kittens, contributing their energies to the world and repaying threefold whatever minor nursing work you had to do to help them out of a jam. (Moreover, they’re likely to be more than happy to do the same for you some time, because most people are surprisingly good at repaying favors.)

I make an exception for nervous breakdowns based on envy and bitterness. For such poisonous incidents I have no respect whatsoever. These are nothing but spiteful tantrums based on bottled-up aggression. Such people cannot be comforted because they have no wish to be comforted. Indeed, the one who is strong enough to reassure them is probably the one they hate most of all.