And I mean mental illness (schitsophrenia, paranoi, obsesive compulsive disporder, clinical depression...) not mentally handicapped.
If I were to ask anyone what they though about mentally ill people they'd probably react with something like that they realsied that they were just ill and needed help etc etc. But that's the conditioned verbal response. I have experienced many times how people react to the mentally ill and it's usually either with condesending pity or trying to distance themselves rapidly. There's something about us that makes us feel that anyone with a mental illness is inferior, that they are a broken model or were weak so just couldn't make it in the world. Or do you think different?
Ask yourself, how would you react if a friend told you he was taking anti-depressants? How would this change your perception of them? If this has happened then what was your initial reaction?
How about other, more 'wierd' illnesses such as obsessive compulsivness or paranoia which are harder to hide and effect a persons life more obviously? Would you still think the same of a friend if he started opening & closing every door 3 times befroe he could walk through it?
After you've assessed what you would think, can you think why? WHy is there such a stigma attached to mental illness?
Originally posted by belgianfreakan excellent thread and issue to contemplate!
After you've assessed what you would think, can you think why? WHy is there such a stigma attached to mental illness?
i think it is rather like any disability in society. people need genuine (as opposed to patronizing) support rather than criticism or bigotry. unfortunately, many people seem to be 'conditioned' into being a certain way with those who are 'different'. however, as we encourage inclusion and integration into society, these attitudes change. some who hold a fear of 'differentness', can see things otherwise when there is opportunity, and education goes a long way to alleviating this fear.
in the final analysis, how we act towards others says more about ourselves than those who are spurned.
in friendship,
prad
I was watching a documentary on "Social Anxiety" by Alain de Botton or something. The fact someone is mentally ill would place them further down the rungs of a social ladder. A vast majority of people strive for their own social acceptance, buying $50,000 watches and $500,000 cars and million dollar mansions. By doing this, they are showing their lack of support for a meritocracy.
I know what it's like to be mentally ill, and what it's like to have friends who are mentally ill. But, "a friend in need is a friend indeed", it would change my view of them, but it would not make them any less of a friend. Why would it change? Not because I am worried about his social acceptance, but because I am worried about his health, and how his condition may result in loss of friends.
Originally posted by DreamlaXIt wouldn't change my view of them one little bit. Someone very close to me has rapid-cycling MDS (Manic depressive disorder which fluctuates multiple times a day) and that same person is deaf into the bargain.
I was watching a documentary on "Social Anxiety" by Alain de Botton or something. The fact someone is mentally ill would place them further down the rungs of a social ladder. A vast majority of people strive for their own social acceptan ...[text shortened]... t his health, and how his condition may result in loss of friends.
Nicest bloody person I've ever met!
Obviously it can be taxing though. If said person is hyper the bank-account has to be blocked and when the bank account is blocked that said hyper person can do a hell of a lot of complaining...
When said person is depressed (which can be a few hours a day, a day or two a week, 3 months not at all...you get the picture?) that person basically goes into solitude and hides in a bedroom stuffing said persons face with loads of goodies. Then complains about weight gainage...
Sometimes you can get angry at this person, but deep down you know it's not the person but the behaviour and you know that the behaviour is due to a disorder. So the person remains who he/she is.
What about a psychopath though? How acceptable is that sort of behaviour? Does that change your view of someone? Or what if someone you know turns out to be a pedofile? Can you still like that person?
Originally posted by shavixmirIt changes my view of the person because I don't view a depressed person and a non-depressed person as the same kind of people, there are quite subtle differences.
It wouldn't change my view of them one little bit.
It would not make them any less a friend, though.
I'm glad someone brought this up..I've been meaning to myself. My ex has a mental illness (some form of personality disorder)..recently though I have been witnessing outbursts of which i would probably describe as psychopathic behaviour. These have been quite scary..to the point where i have taken legal advice. my sis who is an RMN agrees that i have good reason to be very concerned. I'm not sure though if this is part of the mental illness or what?
I also agree though that like learning disability, mentally ill people are treated as social outcasts, are more likely to be discriminated against, abused sexually and physically. I know in Manchester now that people who have a mental illness are starting to get involved with social work degree courses to enable students to have a more social model approach (as with learning disability). The group is called CATS. I recently attended a seminar by CATS who are trying to encourage other disadvantaged groups ie young people who are leaving care, learning disability, carers for alzeimers etc to come together to hopefully change the whole outlook of the people who want to train to be socialworkers , nurses etc. This can only be a good thing...things need to change.
Originally posted by belgianfreakHad to give this some thought. It is a subject dear to my soul.
And I mean mental illness (schitsophrenia, paranoi, obsesive compulsive disporder, clinical depression...) not mentally handicapped.
If I were to ask anyone what they though about mentally ill people they'd probably react with something like that they realsied that they were just ill and needed help etc etc. But that's the conditioned verbal respon ...[text shortened]... what you would think, can you think why? WHy is there such a stigma attached to mental illness?
If I have one.
I am dysfunctional in every way you can ever imagine. Because I was never allowed to form a relationship with a human being as a child. I was never allowed to grow. To doubt. To learn.
I was property.
When I did "break away" I went nuts. I lay in a hospital staring at the light bulb for three months.
I was crazy. Still am.
Once that much damage has been done, one never recovers. I never learned to play. Still can't. Never will. I never learned to trust. I can now do it out of intellectual effort. And I can trust my family. That is because we all trusted each other while the abuse was issued.
I did learn to think. It was my only salvation. To know that the things that befell me and my family were caused. They didn't happen. They were caused. So then I could figure the cause and overcome it with reason.
Or try to.
So to this day, I try.
It is always a strike against me. I don't "enjoy" and I can't "forget about it" and I can't "just roll with the punch". There were too many punches.
So... It can scar you for life. If you let it. The trick is to use all of your resources to understand what happened and then counter the actual deeds done with a better print for the future.
Do I feel bad for what happened to me? Yes.
Do I feel defeated? No.
I have beaten the odds. I have raised two children who know nothing but love.
That is my revenge to a very mean and evil world.
Being crazy isn't nearly as important as learning to live.
Another famous old saying I just invented.