What is mental illness?

I think this article, following comments included, is worth reading:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...pers-interview

Interesting:
Thanks, Pachyderm!

Very interesting, thank you for posting this.

It is interesting, though negative social and environmental factors can contribute to mental illness. The article makes a good point that sometimes normal reactions to a situation get labeled as mental illness symptoms so people that aren't actually mentally ill might be seen that way or become convinced something is wrong with them. However at the same time disregarding someones mental illness symptoms as a 'normal' reaction can also be harmful.

For instance sure a lot of how I felt after trauma that led to my PTSD was a normal reaction, however the fact that I still have terrible symptoms that have gotten worse is not a normal human reaction it is a mental illness brought on by situational causes, and as far as I know like with other disorders one can be more per-disposed to a certain mental illness due to genetics or whatever.

Wow, very interesting! Loved "The Americanizationof Mental Illness" I always wonder about MI and other cultures-how viewed, treated etc. Thank you

Gotta agree w/ the so called anti-stigma ads increasing stigma. There is one that keeps playing here where all these folks come out wearing sweatshirts or Teeshirts w/ a LABEL on it, like depression, bipolar, PTSD, partner, sister--OK I get it one person is a label and illness the other is a sister, spouse, brother etc. What happened to I'm not my illness? I have PTSD, not I am PTSD?

Gee thanks very much, pass the label please.

My problem with anti-stigma campaigns is promoting the "broken brain" theory. "we can't help it" is awfully close to "yes, we are dangerous".

"They" have broken brains; "we" do not.

I like the way you think Pachyderm! The day looks better already.

I read the article above, there is a stigma that goes alog with people being diagnosed with mental illness, i know as i am considered mentally ill because of schitzophrenia, attended day treatment, and i know i was so embarrassed when i was on my way to get there every day for 8 years. i felt paronoid, isolated, was insulted, etc... but i got through it for as long as i did because as the years went by the stigma became less, people got to know me, sick people, and people who weren't sick. i guess i could be considered a soldier in the area of the stigma involved with mental illness. i don't go there anymore, as i moved to a different part of NY state and i get a T to come and see me and i see my doctor every 3 months. i am writing this to let people know the stigma is not as bad as it used to be, people have come a far way in being labled, and i think myself that it has gotten better, even more people are going in themselves to get diagnosed for meds etc..life i found has been more accepting of mental patients.

I have very mixed feelings about the concept of mental illness. I think it is stigmatized in some cases because people feel that mental illness is a character flaw. Another stigma is that the mentally ill are dangerous. Recent debates about gun control and mental health in America have really outlined that concept - that people want to contain the "mentally ill", write different rules for them, create special laws regarding them, etc. There are so many problems with this, however, that I'm really afraid of what direction this will all go. Will depressed people be labelled dangerous? Will people who have bi-polar be prevented from getting jobs? Will there be special "flags" in some national database marking certain people as being potential dangers to society because they've been treated for insomnia?

What encourages me, though, is that this very questioning, this discussion, takes place in the media itself.

Hi, just thought I would voice some of my views on mental illness...

Traditionally diseases are required to have a biological abnormality. Mental Illnesses have no such biological abnormality, and were defined based on similarities between patterns of behaviour put into groups and labelled as mental illnesses. They are mental illnesses as they are deemed to cause suffering to the afflicted.

If you look at the mental illnesses which exist today, not in relation to the individuals suffering, but to the structure of society as a whole, you will notice that mental illnesses generally include all behaviours which are considered undesirable and unwanted in a 'normal civil society'. I would argue it would be possible to put all mental illnesses in this category to some extent.

But then I hear you say;

'but each disease causes suffering to the patient, so it is a disease'

But why is there such a strong relationship between what are considered undesirable and unwanted behaviours in a normal society, and individuals with mental illness. I find this link very interesting. Is much of the distress from mental illness caused by failed social interactions, a faux pas, and the way in which the patient is interacting with others. And the way in which others perceive the patients behaviours due to cultural values and the morals of a normal civil society. And if this is the case does the stigma of mental illness not just reinforce that the behaviours and ways people are acting are wrong and cause more suffering to the patient, through its existence?

All mental diseases unlike many diseases of biological origin have no 'cure', only 'treatment' which can reduce symptoms, but often cause many unwanted side effects. This leaving people with life long 'diseases', in need of life long 'treatment' to augment there patterns of behaviour.

And how will mental diseases change in future, as they have in the past such as homosexuality in recent history, and going back further Drapetomania. Both of which are now no longer considered diseases as to do so would go against 'normal civil society', where as at the time they were considered diseases as they represented behavior which was not socially acceptable to the masses.

These standards get internalized, though. I think that is what produces "mental illness". The mind gets fragmented, with various parts in conflict.

I think the outlook for mental illnesses is better than that. Treatment is not only medication. Brain alterations can be produced by non-medication interventions, which, I think, have a better chance of producing lasting improvements.

Well the whole issue with mental illness is it more often than not includes an inability to control how you feel or all your symptoms and how you react, that is why people with mental illnesses can usually use some sort of help. Ignoring that fact is probably more dangerous than promoting it...it doesn't mean mentally ill people are dangerous at all times or that all are, but yes the symptoms can sometimes make one dangerous to themselves or others....it is shown though that symptoms are worse under stress so obviously reducing stress or teaching better coping techniques if possible could reduce that. Sometimes one can learn to have more control or manage symptoms but not always it depends on the severity and the individual.

I guess. But too often it's the learned helplessness that kills, not the "illness".

Some would argue learned helplessness is part of mental illness, or can be a factor in it. Especially in the case of depression, one could even say some people are more genitically prone to learned helplessness than others...maybe its not nessisarily a part of mental illness but it certainly can cause a lot of problems in ones life. I have first hand experiance with that and I still have to put a lot of effort into trying to stand up for myself and such...its not a mental illness in itself but it certainly adds to the depression.

I refuse, at least for now, to be part of anti-stigma campaigns for the mentally ill, because I'm not 100% sure I should be calling my disorders "mental illnesses," and in any case, I don't want others' knee-jerk reactions and opinions. Once you're known for being mentally ill, people are all-to-quick to dismiss your ideas and thoughts, opinions and suggestions. I understand some people say "wacky" things, but not all wacky things are crazy or bad. Some of the best art, inventions, and discoveries came from wacky thoughts and ideas.

Everything we think, and everything we perceive is within the self. We have senses which give us an impression of something outside the self, however this is perception from within the self, and can only ever be this. We can not know beyond what we think, but we think we can. And I try to understand the world outside the self, however I think it is important to always be aware of this limitation.

I agree the mind becomes fragmented through conflicts, and mental illness can be described this way. I think Social interactions shape this. If people are acting in ways which are considered (by some) to be unacceptable, (this can be something very minor.. or less so) which can include subtle changes in body language, this will change the way the individual can get on in life. People who act in a less 'socially acceptable' manner will be more likely to have problems and conflicts, and so have mental illness.

I think the stigma of mental illness will, however hard people campaign, will always remain as long as the concept of mental illness does. The stigma is created by the concept of mental illness, and could even act as a multiplier, making mental illness more prevalent in society simply by its own existence.

I wasn't trying to say people with mental illness don't have a good chance to improve there health and live a long happy fulfilling life. This can defiantly be achieved. I was mentioning the fact that there are no 'cures' for any mental illness known within the field of Psychiatry. This is true, and I think questions the nature of what mental illness really is, and why how it exists as a construct within todays society.

What would you consider is meant by the term treatment??

Hi, Do you think that by not accepting the label of mental illness, you are staying free from stigma's which would otherwise be if you accepted yourself as 'mentally ill'?

I am not sure I know the import of this question -- I can't think of anything other than what is usually meant. Help by a professional, I guess. I think help can come from non-professionals, too.

How about making life changes eg. exercise regually, change personal environment, career etc, or go travelling, get a pet... if it leads to an improvement of life / less suffering, would you consider it a form of treatment?

I suppose i'm only asking to see how our opinions are the same / differ?

Sounds to me more like what people call getting a life coach, I guess. Not a treatment for mental illness.

I disagree with the artical about when it says that he is "not mentally ill we are believed to believe". It is clear in Many places that he is in fact mentally ill. Both characters talk about how they struggled with mental illness BEFORE there problems happened. Tiffany mentioned that she "wasn't every in the mood for sex" and felt "she had enough trouble taking care of herself" both signs of depression. The main guy also mentions life before. Also, anxiety disorders and OCD are mentioned in the movie that are again left untreated.
They were made to seem "crazy" but human. That is the whole catch in the movie, the beautiful balance between what is human about people that struggle with mental illness. It is stigma and idiocy if someone believes them to be "normal" people struggling. Yes, he had reason to respond in that sense, but key is that the average person wouldn't do such a thing. It's when their response go above and beyond normal that it is clear an untreated illness is happening. Often events just trigger things to come out enough to happen. He often has irrational actions in the movie that clearly mark his illness.
If there is an issue with the fact he doesn't like meds all statements about the meds in the movie include side effects that do happen. For some people meds don't always work. The greatest example would be John Forbes Nash. The worst movie ever for mental health drug companies would be "A Beautiful Mind" and that was based on a true story.
Just my thoughts.
Lillyleaf

Also, inaddition he makes so many general statements about people who saw the movie such as "Wait a minute! I thought (as did everyone I know who saw the movie) it was clear that he was not mentally ill" That is a overstatement. If I was a teacher grading it I would invalidate his whole argument. I can tell you that NOT everyone who saw the movie took him to "not be mentally ill". I can tell you that from experience that if someone is labled as mentally ill people often will take their behavior even if it is normal as something that is mentally ill or irattional.

Sorry... the artical makes me angry, I could go on but I doubt you all care.

Lillyleaf