This is said with a mild voice, in all sincerity, and with no malice or sarcasm at all: I do see a point in what you say, but what really is normal about someone who gimps along like quasimoto with his back on fire? If walking upright with a smile instead of crouched with a grimace is the benchmark for normal, I'd bet lots would fall short of the mark. So would the person suffering from lupus (though less likely to be denied treatment with pain medication). I think you are absolutely right, it's just that some have to decide which is the lesser of the two evils. (I don't think medications are evil, just said to make a point). I agree that to be able to live without would be ideal, but if it's a choice between a mind partially clouded with medicine, or one totally consumed with frustration, anger, fear and embarassment, I think most would choose the former.