Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Blog #12- Mental Illness
I think that there is still so much shame when it comes to mental illnesses because in the past if you had any mental issue you where locked away and the situation as a whole was viewed negatively. One thing that could be done is to prove that many mental illnesses can be managed with in reason. There are so many more options these days-medications and programs that are developed to help with the different disorders. I know that I have said this a million times but another thing that would help is to educate people about all the different disorders, this would help them better understand and be more open.
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5 comments:
That is true, but looking within ourselves and examining our own prejudices would help too. Say for instance, people with schizophrenia. Not everyone knows that schizophrenia is characterized by being out of contact with reality (some think they have lots of personalities). Medication really really helps. However, the meedication has some bad and permanent side effects (like tongue thrusting, parkinson's type symptoms, twitching, etc). People with schizophrenia, while on medication frequently think that since they are better they no longer need medication and stop taking it. These people are frequently homeless. They hallucinate and are delusional off of medication during the acute part of their disease. Just thinking about a person stricken with schizophrenia, not in their power to prevent, brings up all sorts of images. These people are plagued, and are ostracized because they are different, "scary," and can be at risk of harming themselves or others because they are out of contact with reality. It is really sad.
People need to put the old images behind them and remember that a mental illness could happen to them or a loved one. It could happen to anyone no matter what walk of life they come from, and so with that being said there are things that can be done to help. People can be there for one another, show love and support for those in the community, which could serve to show others not to be "afraid" and also not all people with mental illnesses need medicine. It seems that the stigma also comes with the thought that people with mental illnesses having to be medicated or they will be out of control. That is a very off statement, there are numerous people who can use natural ways to control mental illnesses, like being outside for depression and many are gentle and nonviolent mental illnesses. People just need to take the time to get to know those with mental illnesses, they are humans who need love, too.
Lisa,
Knowledge is definitely the key in educating people about all the different disorders. The more people know the better. In our weekly reading, the book mentioned that people who had specific mental illnesses were banned from having children because of the fear that they would produce children that had the same ailment. Mental illness is definitely a problem in today's society. It is becoming more and more normal for people to talk about it. It's good that people talk about it, but it is not good that people are automatically diagnosing themselves with diseases, such as depression, etc. People are quick to say they are depressed, when really they are just not handling a situation like they should. People now a day are becoming their own doctor, and naming their own mental illness.
I too believe that education is the key. With education, you can minimize ignorance. I also believe that we all need more exposure. We should put ourselves out into a community where we can expose ourselves to these people. The more familiar you are with people who suffer from these disorders, the more you can relate to such a situation.
Hi Lisa, I totally agree with you. In the past people who had a mental illness were locked away and people who knew about it they saw it in a negative way. I truly believe this problem could be solved only if people educate themselves about the awareness of this disease.
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