--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some people think mental illness is a…" description: "\"“Some people think mental illness is a matter of mood, a matter of personality. They think depression is simply a form of being sad, that OCD is a form..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8f/david-levithan-67_depression_some-people-think-mental-illness-is-a-ma_1763731.jpg" --- # Some people think mental illness is a matter of mood, a… ![“Some people think mental illness is a matter of mood, a matter of personality. They think depression is simply a form of being sad, that OCD is a form of being uptight. They think the soul is sick, not the body. It is, they believe, something that you have some choice over. I know how wrong this…” quote by David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8f/david-levithan-67_depression_some-people-think-mental-illness-is-a-ma_1763731.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8f/david-levithan-67_depression_some-people-think-mental-illness-is-a-ma_1763731.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8f/david-levithan-67_depression_some-people-think-mental-illness-is-a-ma_1763731.jpg) > ““Some people think mental illness is a matter of mood, a matter of personality. They think depression is simply a form of being sad, that OCD is a form of being uptight. They think the soul is sick, not the body. It is, they believe, something that you have some choice over. I know how wrong this is. When I was a child, I didn't understand. I would wake up in a new body and wouldn't comprehend why things felt muted, dimmer. Or the opposite--I'd be supercharged, unfocused, like a radio at top volume flipping quickly from station to station. Since I didn't have access to the body's emotions, I assumed the ones I was feeling were my own. Eventually, though, I realized these inclinations, these compulsions, were as much a part of the body as its eye color or its voice. Yes, the feelings themselves were intangible, amorphous, but the cause of the feelings was a matter of chemistry, biology. It is a hard cycle to conquer. The body is working against you. And because of this, you feel even more despair. Which only amplifies the imbalance. It takes uncommon strength to live with these things. But I have seen that strength over and over again.”” [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mental illness stems from biological chemistry, not just mood or personality, creating a challenging cycle of despair and resilience. **In simple terms:** Mental illness is biological, not just emotional. Key Takeaway Recognize the physical basis and seek support. Themes mental health biology resilience Mood reflective empathetic hopeful Type personal narrative educational When to use this quote - therapy - medical treatment - support groups - self‑care routines Key Concepts Neurochemistry psychology stigma coping strategies Questions to Reflect On - How does acknowledging biology change treatment? - What role does community play in recovery? A Different Perspective Biology alone cannot fully explain experiences; social factors matter too. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-emotions-1715839/) [Compulsions Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compulsions-body-1715838/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Eye color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye-color/) [Feelings Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings-matter-234446/) [Mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-illness/) [Think Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-depression-1715837/) [Think Mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-mental-343006/) ## Related quotes > [“Some people think mental illness is a matter of mood, a matter of personality. 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And no matter how many times I tell myself that I'm better off without you, a part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-still-have-feelings-for-you-and-no-matter-how-many-times-i-tell/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'll always have feelings for you. No matter how hard I try to forget you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ll-always-have-feelings-for-you-no-matter-how-hard-i-try-to-forget/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by David Levithan > [“When you jump, all you're going to do is fall. But leaping? Leaping is when you think there's something on the other side.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/when-you-jump-all-you-re-going-to-do-is-fall-but-leaping-leaping-is/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“The past and the future are what's complicated. It's the present that's simple. 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