A historical context of mental illness

My day job is in the field of mental health, so when I saw a public lecture entitled "Demons, Humors, and Medieval Minds" I was immediately intrigued. The description promised a discussion about the ways in which mental illness was explained in the medieval ages. It was a part of Profs and Pints Richmond which is a local chapter of a national movement to bring university professors into the community. The fact that this series is being held at Triple Crossing Brewing (one of my favorite local breweries) was a bonus.

The night's lesson was delivered by Dr. Leigh Ann Craig, associate professor of history at VCU and author of Wandering Women and Holy Matrons: Women as Pilgrims in the Later Middle Ages. Throughout the evening she cited numerous historical texts that give hints into the prevailing mindset of the time. It seems that demonic possession was not the only explanation for seemingly irrational behavior.

In fact, one of the most interesting facts I took away from this talk was that demons were constrained to Mediterranean cultures until Christianity adopted them and spread them throughout the rest of Europe. I had never considered the fact that northern European literature is filled with monsters (Grendel, dragons, etc) and not spirits or demons. Looking at it with this new knowledge certainly emphasizes how ideas that were once insular can be spread when various populations interact. It's not a huge leap to associate this idea with the need for culturally sensitive education in public health.

Of particular interest to my work outside of my day job... wanderlust was viewed as a mental illness in the medieval ages. I can see how someone desiring to travel far from home or to refuse to maintain a permanent residence would have been viewed as "ill". After all, the world was filled with demons that could enter your body by all sorts of methods. Luckily, we now understand that wanderlust is perfectly normal and that you won't get possessed by foul spirits if you decide to Explore the Everyday.