“Lunatics are similar to designated hitters. Often an entire family is crazy, but since an entire family can't go into the hospital, one person is designated as crazy and goes inside. Then, depending on how the rest of the family is feeling that person is kept inside or snatched out, to prove something about the family's mental health.”
— Susanna Kaysen
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“Lunatics are similar to designated hitters. Often an entire family is crazy, but since an entire family can't go into the hospital, one person is designated as crazy and goes inside. Then, depending on how the rest of the family is feeling that person is kept inside or snatched out, to prove something about the family's mental health.” — Susanna Kaysen. Have you ever noticed how families sometimes project their unspoken burdens onto one person? Let's break the cycle of blame and choose collective healing and empathy today. Share your thoughts in the comments below! 👇
About this quote
In her poignant observation, Susanna Kaysen reminds us of the heavy invisible burdens carried within families, where the struggles of the collective are often unfairly unloaded onto a single vulnerable individual. It is a heartbreaking reality of human dynamics: instead of acknowledging shared brokenness, we sometimes look for a scapegoat to bear the label of 'unwell,' using their confinement or liberation as a barometer for everyone else's stability. This profound metaphor of the 'designated hitter' invites us to reflect deeply on our own relational patterns, urging us to step away from cycles of blame and toward genuine, collective healing. Ultimately, this quote serves as a powerful call to radical empathy and self-awareness in our daily lives. True personal growth and emotional well-being cannot happen in isolation, nor can they be achieved by projecting our inner chaos onto someone else. When we have the courage to acknowledge our shared vulnerabilities rather than hiding behind a designated scapegoat, we open the door to authentic connection, compassion, and true mental health for the entire family system.
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Photo by leoon liang on Unsplash
