The Monomania Disorder
I met a unique intelligent and knoledgable person
A few days back, I happened to meet a very intelligent and knowledgeable person. He is postgraduate in English literature and has very good general knowledge. He is also a very learned homoeopath. But he cannot resist drinking. In spite of his exceptional knowledge and intelligence, he cannot help landing himself in very insulting and awkward condition. His family is tired of him. Just the drinking habit has spoiled him badly.
He was okay when he happened to meet me. He told me all about himself and his drinking habit voluntarily and unhesitatingly. I just enquired what makes him drink heavily even in day time when he should be working. He told that he suffers from monomania.
What is monomania
Thus I came to know first time about this disorder. I attempted to find out what this disorder means and how this affects the individual suffering from this. The term ‘monomania’ consists of two terms- mono and mania. The term ‘mono’ means ‘single’ . Thus ‘monologue’ means that an individual talks to himself only. Mania is defined as intense desire or craze for anything- may be for neatness. Thus monomania- means excessive obsession or craze for any single object or feeling.
In medical terms. Monomania is defined as a manifestation of bipolar disorder characterized by profuse and rapidly changing ideas, exaggerated sexuality, gaiety, irritability and decreased sleep. This may lead to violent abnormal behavior.
Monomania is defined in several ways. In Psychiatry, this is a single pathological preoccupation in an otherwise sound mind. Emotional monomania is characterized by obsession with only one emotion or several related to that. There may also be intellectual monomania which relates to only one kind of delirious idea
Presently, monomania is not considered a mental disorder. However, there are several disorders once covered under ‘monomania’ . These are now classified differently.
Kinds of monomania
There are following disorders that are akin to monomania”Erotomania : Delusion that a man or woman is in love with the patient. This can occur without reinforcement or even acquaintanceship with the love object.
- Kleptomania : Iresistible urge to steal. Many dignitaries like film stars and other famous persons suffer from this. Many steal even small things like handkerchiefs, spoons etc.because of the disorder
Monomania in films and literature
There are many films on this topic and this find place in literature. In Balzac’s novel- ‘Lucien De Rubempre’, the title character is referred to as in a hallucinatory state similar to a monomaniac. In ‘Crime and Punishment’ by Fyodor Dostoevsky, the main character is said to be a monomaniac several times.
In H.G. Wells ‘The Time Machine’, the time traveler narrates as “To sit among all those unknown things before a puzzle like that is hopeless. That way lies monomania.”
Genuine disorder or pretext
My apprehension is that the learned Homeopath who met me is also well conversant with literature. He cannot resist drinking. It may be that he tries to justify his immense obsession with drinks and also prevents criticism from family and other by sheltering behind pretext of monomania. It is interesting that he does not wish to get rid of this disorder. He cited Sir Bertrand Russell to say that ‘fear of public opinion’ is a cause for unhappiness. Thus he considers himself happy by doing what he wishes not caring what others say. To silence others, he pretends that he is monomaniac. However, I am not sure of the truth. The wearer alone knows where the shoe pinches.
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