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Mar 17, 2010, 05:56 PM
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Member Since: Jun 2007
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 5,518
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Quote:
Originally Posted by englishteacher
It certainly seems like there is a lot more mental illness being diagnosed and treated than there was 20 years ago. Is this because doctors know more/accept more about mental illness than they did 20 years ago? Or are there more of us who are mentally ill than 20 years ago? If there are more of us, what does that mean? What does it say about the society we live in.
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Hi englishteacher
I don't think it has anything to do with intelligence or a higher level of existence than others. It has to do with the pursuit of money and instant gratification. Mental illness has become a thriving business on many levels. More people get diagnosed, more people get treated, but I've yet to see a solid cure for mental illness - where the person lives "happily ever after."
It's the same with cancer. There is no solid cure or preventative measure - just a lot of treatment to pursue and products to purchase.
I suffer from a very rare form of systemic amyloidosis. There isn't any treatment or cure - none whatsoever - because there aren't enough of us throughout the world. I've been told point blank there will never be any treatment or cure because it's a waste of money for scientists and pharmaceutical companies. My extremely rare form is hereditary, so it's not lucrative enough for them. The only "treatment" I've received was to be told not to have any more children and donate my body to Finland in case they are still interested in researching my illness.  They are no longer interested, but that's okay because I've decided against donating my body.  With my luck, my body would get lost on it's way to Finland - I'd probably spend eternity on the baggage carousel in Norway. 
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