Abnormal x 2 = Normal

I lost interest in math when they numbers and letters began to be combined. However, it may be coming in handy at this time in the formula: A x 2 = N

Or, to put it another way, and to borrow a quote from Viktor Frankl in his book Man's Search For Meaning "An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behavior". When situations are abnormal, outside the norm of human experience of safety and security, we adapt to new behaviors to survive, otherwise known as survival skills. Practiced over time, these become normalized behaviors. Normal is normal in the context of the actor and the circumstance.

Lets look at it this way: Abnormal situation of being raised in a home where addiction is present. Abnormal reaction to this may be emotional repression of a household member who is not in active addiction. Normalized behavior then shows up over time of emotional repression and emotional disconnect from others. A x 2 = N

Or lets try looking at this example: Person 1 witnesses violence at home over and over (abnormal situation). Person 1 then may develop a physiological response of freeze when exposed to violence in real life, media, tv, or film. Others around may have a different reaction to same stimuli and look at Person 1 as 'different'.

Examples are abundant to this equation. The other key factor here is that 'all behaviors make sense' and behaviors are practiced actions over time to stimuli both real and perceived. Behaviors are not pathologies. They are the nervous systems way of speaking. Normal is normal to the individual who has experienced the experiences one has.

Let's take a trauma informed, humanistic, existential approach to behavior and understanding of the human condition. We are more than our labels used to describe, we are speaking with our actions. Who do you trust to listen to what you are saying?