[Homeira]

Maybe a controversial question... While mental illness is a lot about brain chemistry, and certain factors are genetic, and some has to do with brain-funktion, I also believe that a lot of factors in our society worsen our symptoms, cause mental illness to debut, and make people suffer from a lot of anguish and depression. As well as a lot of theraphy is focused on making people with MI function better in society. Well, are we really to be made to believe that the society that might have caused a lot of problems for us, is one that we should strive to conform into? I wonder what others think about this issue.

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by Homeira

As well as a lot of theraphy is focused on making people with MI function better in society. Well, are we really to be made to believe that the society that might have caused a lot of problems for us, is one that we should strive to conform into?

Functioning better in society is not necessarily the same as conforming to it.

[Insignificant other]

You are on to something.
Society has been depressed much more lately.
Every time you turn on the news its bad news .. it's no wonder mental issues are on the rise.

[Homeira]

I have struggeles a lot shame because I have not been able to work. And it seems people who know that I have a MI, dont really ask me much about how I am doing with my illness, but instead ask me (first question); "Are you working now". I have one friend who really sees me for what I am, a person with a mental illness, and he cares first about how I am coping with that, and supports me completely when I am not able to work. And when I am barely able to get out of bed, he simply says to me that I should not worry so much about work, when I have a serious illness. (as well as my ex-husband (! I know, unusual...), who totally supports me when I am sick, and does everything he can to take care of our son when I am not able to fully be there for him. But why this constant pressure on people who are not able to function well in the workforce, actually shaming us instead??

[pegasus]

Yes so many pressures in modern living now, stress is one of the biggest factors for people going off sick from work. Why? Because we live in a world where people don't even have time to say hello to each other! Then there is the pressure around money issues which rules all of our lives! Yeah, bring back the cave man days, I don't think they even needed therapy back then!

[Homeira]

I must apologize for my referals to my personal life. Maybe that doesnt belong in a thread like this. Sorry guys, just venting. And of course, being that I live in Europe I can attest to that in Europe it is just as bad, If not worse in some countries, as in the States. Huge numbers of people losing jobs and not getting a new one, or getting a degree and not being able to find work. Left with a huge student loan that they cant pay. When all we have learned is that if we just work hard enough, everything will solve itself. It simply is not true. I believe that this world would be a better place if we did not put emphasis only on money and having the latest fashion. There are other ways to have a meaningful life. Maybe striving to live frugally and valuing having more time with our friend and families, and being creative and spiritual, showing more solidarity with those who struggle, would be better for our minds and hearts. And so what if we dont have the expensive cars, the latest fashion, the biggest house etc.

I think you have some very good insights onto society.

[Homeira]

Originally Posted by George H.

I think you have some very good insights onto society.

était-ce un rêve?
était-ce juste un rêve?

Peut-être que la vie est un rêve. Mais ce qui arrive quand nous nous réveillons?
My french still working these days???

[Angelique67]

Originally Posted by Homeira

était-ce un rêve?
était-ce juste un rêve?

Peut-être que la vie est un rêve. Mais ce qui arrive quand nous nous réveillons?
My french still working these days???

It worked for me. I can still read it un peu.

[waterknob1234]

Originally Posted by Homeira

I have struggeles a lot shame because I have not been able to work. And it seems people who know that I have a MI, dont really ask me much about how I am doing with my illness, but instead ask me (first question); "Are you working now". I have one friend who really sees me for what I am, a person with a mental illness, and he cares first about how I am coping with that, and supports me completely when I am not able to work. And when I am barely able to get out of bed, he simply says to me that I should not worry so much about work, when I have a serious illness. (as well as my ex-husband (! I know, unusual...), who totally supports me when I am sick, and does everything he can to take care of our son when I am not able to fully be there for him. But why this constant pressure on people who are not able to function well in the workforce, actually shaming us instead??

I think people don't understand mental illness and do not understand that we struggle. People are more supportive it seems when people have a tangible physical illness. It is hard to work and function with a mental illness or depression. People can't seem to understand that this is an illness too and can just as debilitating as a physical illness.

[waterknob1234]

Another thing on work and jobs. I remember the good old days when a dedicated hard working employee was an asset to a company. In this economy it is more like that same employee is viewed as a liability because he/she costs money in payroll. What I see a lot of is 1.) People suffer because they are unemployed and can't find a job or 2.) People who do have a job have to get more done with less. When someone leaves a job they are not replaced. Fewer people are actually expected to do more work and then "disciplined" or threatened when they can't get the work done. I would love to see change in this regard.

[Homeira]

As long as labor rights are as they are, nothing is going to change. And the bosses certainly are not going to change them.

Who says we wake up?

Originally Posted by waterknob1234

Another thing on work and jobs. I remember the good old days when a dedicated hard working employee was an asset to a company. In this economy it is more like that same employee is viewed as a liability because he/she costs money in payroll. What I see a lot of is 1.) People suffer because they are unemployed and can't find a job or 2.) People who do have a job have to get more done with less. When someone leaves a job they are not replaced. Fewer people are actually expected to do more work and then "disciplined" or threatened when they can't get the work done. I would love to see change in this regard.

That seems true in general. I still keep up with my old employer though because I'm related to a board member and have known some of the others since I was a child. I can tell you that it is one of the most bloated and least efficient corporations I have ever heard of outside the US military. It will also make its highest gross profit ever this fiscal year. Maybe it's a Texas thing?

[ChipperMonkey]

I'd say that society does indeed have a place in the increase in mental illness.

Maybe this is a bit of a tangent, but there have been studies that show there may be a link between autism and nutrition. I wouldn't doubt such a connection seeing as how so many people live off of nutrient deficient processed foods. It sort of stands to reason that if your nutrition is off, then your body is going to have problems. It wasn't so long ago that autism was considered to be more rare. Now it seems like everyone has it and its the trendy illness to have, that is be "on the spectrum". I don't think that the spike in diagnosis rates is solely due to doctors being better able to see such problems in people. But yeah, this sort of fits in as society has modernized, our quality of food has gone downhill.

[Hellion]

I tend to agree with you on this. I think there are a lot of factors in society that contribute to mental illness, and can also make it worse for people who already have mental illnesses.

But yeah I don't really think it makes much sense for my goal to be to conform to the very society that contributes to my mental health issues either. But yeah I think this is an issue in various societies, not exactly sure where everyone in this thread is from.

[Hellion]

Originally Posted by ChipperMonkey

I'd say that society does indeed have a place in the increase in mental illness.

Maybe this is a bit of a tangent, but there have been studies that show there may be a link between autism and nutrition. I wouldn't doubt such a connection seeing as how so many people live off of nutrient deficient processed foods. It sort of stands to reason that if your nutrition is off, then your body is going to have problems. It wasn't so long ago that autism was considered to be more rare. Now it seems like everyone has it and its the trendy illness to have, that is be "on the spectrum". I don't think that the spike in diagnosis rates is solely due to doctors being better able to see such problems in people. But yeah, this sort of fits in as society has modernized, our quality of food has gone downhill.

I am pretty sure not everyone has autism...also I actually do my best to stay away from processed food and I still am on the spectrum. I know when I go for a period of eating rather unhealthy I have more digestive discomfort and it will make me rather grumpy...but I do not think all my autism traits/symptoms are going to go away if I find the perfect diet. Though if anything I tend towards healthier food, however eating enough or having enough to eat can be difficult.

I also do not see what is so trendy about having trouble with social interaction, a harder time dealing with stress and sensory issues so things that don't bother most people irritate the crap out of you...if people think that is trendy they got issues. Also its not a mental illness, it is a neurological condition/developmental disorder and people are born that way people do not just develop autism.

[Homeira]

When people assume that it is trendy or somehow glamorous to have a MI, I am starting to believe it is just another way of putting people who struggle with these issues down. As if there is anything nice in MI?! And then it is usually followed up with some kind of unsolicited pseudo-medical advice. In my case I am also adviced to find a man pronto. (Any man is better than no man!) Followed up with advice on how to get a man. ( I am in my forties, I have figured that out by now... Just decided that for the time being I am much better off on my own, thank you very much ). Apperently society at large has something against us single girls as well! Especially when we choose to be single. People really dont like to hear me say that I choose to be single because it makes me happy, after staying too long in a really bad marriage.

[Homeira]

And true, autism is not MI, no matter what anyone says. Sorry about that one!

[iRunforfun]

I definitely don't think that society helps mental illness, but I don't know about "causing" it. Mental illness is EXTREMELY complicated and multi-dimensional.

Genetics, early childhood experiences (parenting techniques, trauma), life experiences, learned coping techniques, lifestyle factors, stressful situations, society.... all of these things and more can contribute to mental illness.

I think that society puts un-necessary stigmas on mental illness, and that a majority of people don't understand mental illness because they are extremely uneducated on the topic. I think this makes it hard for certain people to seek help as they may feel judged. I know that personally, my Mother is one of those stigma people... so I feared seeking help for years due to the fact that I knew she wouldn't understand and would judge me.

I actually feel like society is becoming more educated about the impact and importance of mental health, compared to how it used to be. Help seems to be a lot more available.

[Angelique67]

My parents contributed a lot to my becoming mentally ill through their abuse. Funnily my mother is a stigma believer and she doesn't really like me. Never has.

This is such a good topic...

And I don't have much more to add except that I suffer from anxiety and depression, but it come to me later in life...and I can't seem to link it to any one specific thing. I have been thinking a lot lately that perhaps we have the ability to handle a lot...but we do have a limit and maybe something that would be minor on it's own just pushes us over the edge...
I wish I knew.

[Homeira]

I guess it is also a question exactly what we mean by conforming to society. What does it mean for a person with MI to be a person who functions well in society? Is it to be able to work? For me the pressure that is making me really worse is the shaming I feel for not being able to work for long periods at a time. And I notice that the fact that I am have an ok financial situation makes me accepted despite of that. What does that tell me about society? That I would be less accepted if I was poor? The more money a person has, the higher respect he or she deserves? I am fortunate enough to have enough, and I really notice that people treat me like I am a better person just because of that fact alone..! And of course, like I mentioned before, the pressure to conform in terms of living in a relationship. That is also a really unfortunate demand from society, especially damaging for people with MI. What I mean by that is that people with MI often are more isolated from meeting new people etc, because of the nature of our illness. And I now that people struggle a lot with that. I have decided to focus on myself and celebrate every aspect of my singledom. But that is really hard in a world where we are constantly bombarded with images of happy couples in advertisement, in movies, in tv-shows etc. Really not a big help to people who are struggeling in that department. There are a lot of ways to live a fulfilling life that does not involve having a partner, and I really think that people with MI need to consider that.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Hellion

I am pretty sure not everyone has autism...also I actually do my best to stay away from processed food and I still am on the spectrum. I know when I go for a period of eating rather unhealthy I have more digestive discomfort and it will make me rather grumpy...but I do not think all my autism traits/symptoms are going to go away if I find the perfect diet. Though if anything I tend towards healthier food, however eating enough or having enough to eat can be difficult.

I also do not see what is so trendy about having trouble with social interaction, a harder time dealing with stress and sensory issues so things that don't bother most people irritate the crap out of you...if people think that is trendy they got issues. Also its not a mental illness, it is a neurological condition/developmental disorder and people are born that way people do not just develop autism.

Right. And we have many autism cases here (Silicon Valley) and the fact that pretty much everybody is drinking kale smoothies and eating quinoa does not change that. I am always surprised to hear the hypothesis implicating processed foods because processed foods are a very recent phenomenon, while neurological and psychiatric diseases have existed for much longer - they were just called different names. Processed foods aren't the most nutritious, or tasty, fare (to my taste at least, they are pretty bad, probaby because I was raised on food cooked from scratch), but to believe that they are a major causative factor in illnesses that predate the agrobiz by centuries if not millennia seems odd to me.

[Homeira]

I agree with hamster-bamster. MI and Austism / asberger has been around long before processed food, pollution etc. Historical records show this. The only thing that changed from society to society was the way these things were viewed and/or treated. Also it has been around long before our modern hectic life-styles. But I am sure every society had its poins that caused stress and anguish for some its members, contributing to depression and debut of MI.

[CaptainChaos79]

yes in some cases society is absolutely to blame. Take anorexia and bulemia...until recently they were almost entirely American problems...culture bound syndromes