Mental Disorders: Identity or Disability?

[HK]

The Personality Disorder thread got me thinking about this. As I mentioned there, I know more than one person with a mental disorder and one of them especially treats it as though he's proud to be suffering under it. He literally cannot function in normal society when he's on a bad day, but he's one of those people who will make every effort to mention it to anyone he can, and bring it up in relation to everything, as though no decision or action in his life is influenced by anything other than him having bipolar disorder.

So, how do people here view mental illness? I know some people here have one or two themselves, some don't, so maybe we'll get some interesting answers.

Is a mental disorder something to be fixed or at least moderated and controlled as far as is possible? Is it standing in the way of that person's real personality? Or do you think it's a significant part of their lives and shouldn't be viewed as an illness at all, since that suggests it is something 'wrong' with them?

I get the feeling some people view having a mental illness, as Zorak suggested as a badge of honour, or uniqueness. That it's not something to be fixed so much as something which indicates artistic talent or intelligence. If you'd agree with that, why?

 

[Peter Parka]

I have aspergers syndrome and it's just part of who I am. There's fuck all I can do about it so I just dont think about it much. My friends and family understand and that's all that matters. I dont keep bleating on about it, either to gain sympathy or some kind of badge of honour. I just have it and that really is all there is to it. Couldn't give a fuck what anyone else thinks.

 

[HK]

Pete, just out of curiousity - if there were a pill you could take or a treatment that would cure your Aspergers, would you consider taking it? Or would you turn it down?

I wasn't thinking about the autistic spectrum so much when I wrote this because I guess I was thinking more about the 'cool' mental illnesses you seem to get these days. Like how every teenager seems to be suffering from depression

 

[Zorak]

I'm not discounting the validity of these conditions, for clarification. These are very real, and often very serious and debilitating illnesses.
But too often I see many young people proud to be a (supposed) manic depressive, or whatever.

I can see the temptation, but I think when these people realise they could instead establish their uniqueness through there own personal and positive attributes, they might be happier.

 

[Peter Parka]

Pete, just out of curiousity - if there were a pill you could take or a treatment that would cure your Aspergers, would you consider taking it? Or would you turn it down?

That's kind of difficult to answer because of it, the way I think feel's right and it's others way of thinking and seeing things that seems wrong. Would I be happier if I didn't have aspergers? I dont think I neccessarilly would because my thinking through having aspergers has built my whole life, the friends I've got ect. I dont really see it as a disability as such, just more as who I am and it cant be denied that people are attracted to me because of how aspergers causes me to think. I might be a complete arsehole if I didn't have aspergers. It's too difficult to seperate what about my personality is the aspergers and what is just part of my personality. The're one and the same.

 

[Abcinthia]

I really dislike people who feel the need to label themselves as having a mental illness when they really don't. I think it takes away from people who really do have the illness. I think part of it is because it's become a competition as to who has the best mental illness - or illness in general actually.

Mental illness is a vague term which covers a wide range of illnesses, some of which affect personality more than others. I guess the vast majority of mental illness will impact on the person in some way but how much it affects them will depend on the nature of the illness. Do I think they should be moderated or fixed? Again that would depend on the person, the type of illness and the type of treatment offered. There is no easy or clearcut answer to it.

 

[Mystic]

personally i think for the most part 'mental illnesses' like depression could, if people put more effort into changing their lifestyles, avoid it or 'fix' it without drugs. I say that, living with a person on antidepressants. I think because of his diet and lack of exercise and not enough sunlight creates the reasons for his mental imbalance so he has to take drugs so as not to be a complete asshole.

I think a lot of 'mental illnesses' have bee created by drug companys just for the purpose of selling drugs. We are in a society where if you've "Got an itchy bum, don't bathe use this drug instead". A lot of what we 'have' is because we are not healthy eaters or active people any more. Yes, there are some that even diet can't fix their behaviours but I'd put my money on about 80% out there that are on drugs for mental disorders can be fix just through lifestyle changes for the better.

Drug company's have made it 'normal' to be abnormal and therefore have allowed us to embrace being fucked up and on drugs, where as if we still thought it a terrible thing we might actually do more to fix it. Its not something i take lightly thats for sure. when some says to me they are bi-polar, i usually have a lot less contact with them and it says to me, wow i knew there was something wrong with them, NOW I know. Most of the bi-polars i have met i honestly don't have the patience nor the want to embraces their fucked uppedness. I don't give a shit if they have a label for why they are nice one minute and why they are a complete asshole the next. I'm in the normal zone and i wish to surround myself with normal ppl, whether that makes me heartless, i don't care as it makes MY life, easier NOT to ave to deal with people who are fucked up. We make too many excuses for people with labels and i think that doesn't help the rest of us trying to live normal lives.

LOL wow i used the words fucked up a lot. Terrible language. LOL

 

[Mystic]

We're trying to carry on normal lives too you know, that's bullshit you think like that.

Not bullshit at all, its a fact i agree with most heartedly. I am of the mind set that we'd be better off if a lot of the mental idiots out there were put back into institutions. Not all, just the ones that can't be normalized by the drugs they should be on. The ones we end up putting in jails we should put to death instead like we would a lame animal.

Oh and bolded the important part just incase you forget to read that part like you did in the other post.:24:

 

[Mystic]

We're trying to carry on normal lives too you know, that's bullshit you think like that.

So you going to get rid of your kids if they had an illness incase they mess with your normal life?

oh you edited some more....

I would look at what I am doing as parent that is wrong, such as do we eat fast food? do we exercise enough. does the child get all their proper minerals and vits.

and going back to my first post let me bold this for you:

Yes, there are some that even diet can't fix their behaviours but I'd put my money on about 80% out there that are on drugs for mental disorders can be fix just through lifestyle changes for the better.

 

[Mystic]

Don't treat me like an idiot, because I did read everything you posted. Talk about ignorance.

:ninja .... wow take a pill. :24: You'd think the world revolved around you. I stated my opinion, if you don't like it, don't read it, but certainly don't try to make it about you or say i was calling you an idiot, you did that all on your own.:nod:

and now i will leave you to rant all alone in the thread as I can't be bothered with posters like you.:yuk

 

[cam elle toe]

Some are proving their results from the other thread, thats for sure:cool

 

[purpledove]

Some are proving their results from the other thread, thats for sure:cool

:homo:

 

[purpledove]

Being in the profession that I am I may have a different view from most. This of course is based on my experience dealing with those in Forensics and those with mental illness having to be excused or with court trials pending due to mental illness. Having been working in the Admissions Unit where I encounter both society type non- felons ( socially disruptive type symptoms etc only at the facility for therapy/rehabilitation ) and felons- the therapy classes at our Institutions becomes revolving doors to most mentally ill patients! Those that had been continuously been causing problems in the society and with authorities are the ones that are incarcerated.

I do believe that some can do without medications like most depression sufferers. But it totally depends on one's support system and coping skills as most need medication to get back on track. I've seen most who have started to be on that department to soon be relapsing due to poor coping skills when a problem arises.

It's true that mental illness encompasses a big area some more severe than others. Some may need continuous medications some don't. But most that I have encountered, need continuous medications to be stable Those that have started to be against authorities with drugs are among the ones we treat! They have tendencies to go back and forth in that same problem. Which now recently proven in a research which states an association of a disorder in the brain due to dopamine in the reward or pleasure center of one's brain hence the relapsing. Drug addiction + mental illness or even just a personality disorder or plain depression had been one of the most common problems in society today

Drug addicts may relapse and start using again because of many environmental "cues", which are external forces that are associated with drug use in their lives. When the drugs addicts see these cues, their brain circuitry, especially the orbitofrontal cortex become hyperactive and causes these people to start craving drugs again (2). No matter how successful the rehabilitation treatment is, once those "cues" are around, the drug addicts remember how pleasurable the drugs felt and relapse into drug abuse again

 

[purpledove]

I know there are lots of mental disorders. But since we're discussing Personality disorders ( I think ) -most of the mental disorders I have encountered are Narcissistic, Anti-social behaviors and Borderline which are the most common who have very strong tendencies to be against the law or cause social disruptions.

Given normal situations, one is able to cope even if they have moderate to very high results from that Personality test ( Previous thread) . But once they're triggered by a situation that one is unable to cope is when symptoms occur. However those with moderate results just as long as there is a strong coping skill and support system then symptoms may not surface or can easily be stabilized. I've seen most that are able to cope IF they continuously go to therapy and be medicated with strong support system from family and friends. Unfortunately that's the case with all patients

I am aware that most psychotropic medications have side effects and that's also very unfortunate as most need continuous medications

The hardest to treat are Borderline Personality, Anti-social, Narcissistic Personality Disorders as it's hard to alter given such traits are part of their Personality . Bipolars on the other hand are also hard to manage given the easy shift in their moods. Psychotic symptoms can be cured/stabilized by Psychotropic medications. Continuous therapy can stabilize them too! Those with disruptive behaviors may be treated with anti- anxiety medications that can alter their tendencies to be apprehensive and socially disruptive/feisty. Although if used regularly it loses it's effect on them.

Yikes! Mental illness is so wide a scope to discuss

 

[retro]

personally i think for the most part 'mental illnesses' like depression could, if people put more effort into changing their lifestyles, avoid it or 'fix' it without drugs. I say that, living with a person on antidepressants. I think because of his diet and lack of exercise and not enough sunlight creates the reasons for his mental imbalance so he has to take drugs so as not to be a complete asshole.

I think a lot of 'mental illnesses' have bee created by drug companys just for the purpose of selling drugs. We are in a society where if you've "Got an itchy bum, don't bathe use this drug instead". A lot of what we 'have' is because we are not healthy eaters or active people any more. Yes, there are some that even diet can't fix their behaviours but I'd put my money on about 80% out there that are on drugs for mental disorders can be fix just through lifestyle changes for the better.

Drug company's have made it 'normal' to be abnormal and therefore have allowed us to embrace being fucked up and on drugs, where as if we still thought it a terrible thing we might actually do more to fix it. Its not something i take lightly thats for sure. when some says to me they are bi-polar, i usually have a lot less contact with them and it says to me, wow i knew there was something wrong with them, NOW I know. Most of the bi-polars i have met i honestly don't have the patience nor the want to embraces their fucked uppedness. I don't give a shit if they have a label for why they are nice one minute and why they are a complete asshole the next. I'm in the normal zone and i wish to surround myself with normal ppl, whether that makes me heartless, i don't care as it makes MY life, easier NOT to ave to deal with people who are fucked up. We make too many excuses for people with labels and i think that doesn't help the rest of us trying to live normal lives.

LOL wow i used the words fucked up a lot. Terrible language. LOL

There is such a ridiculous amount of ignorance in that post that I don't even think I know where to start

But apparently you should just put me on ignore, because I'm not "normal", and you only want to surround yourself with "normal" people. It's also incredibly ignorant to actually believe that something as simple as a "lifestyle change" is going to help people that suffer from bipolar disorder, BPD, autism, Asperger syndrome, or a whole host of other mental illnesses. Yep, we're all just a bunch of lazy fucks that would rather take a pill than change something about their life in order for it to fit into the nice little box you think we should go in.

I guess we should all just move off to an island somewhere so that we won't interfere with you "normal" people living your "normal" lives. I'd fucking love it if I was more "normal", because then I might actually fit in somewhere. But I'm not, so I make do the best that I can. I take my meds, and they make me more stable, but I'm a complete disaster when I'm not on them. I've made lifestyle changes, I've changed what I eat, changed my sleeping patterns, gone off of caffeine, gone back on caffeine, all of those amazing lifestyle changes that you seem to think will "fix" us all... guess what. None of them worked. I'm sorry to burst your bubble.

Sure, there are people out there that could change their lifestyle and be a happier person in general and wouldn't necessarily suffer from depression, etc. But those people are firmly in the minority if you go and look at just about any medical study.

I'll just go sit in my corner now, lest I upset one of you great and almighty "normal" people.

 

[retro]

Not bullshit at all, its a fact i agree with most heartedly. I am of the mind set that we'd be better off if a lot of the mental idiots out there were put back into institutions. Not all, just the ones that can't be normalized by the drugs they should be on. The ones we end up putting in jails we should put to death instead like we would a lame animal.

Oh and bolded the important part just incase you forget to read that part like you did in the other post.:24:

Oh, I guess that since my meds only partially stabilize me, I need to be committed too. Sweet. I'm actually kinda looking forward to the padded walls that I can bounce off of.

 

[Francis]

No comments in this thread except to say many things are being said by ignorance of never having been there or having suffered that..

I find this discussion quite disgusting..

 

[retro]

As far as the actual thread topic goes...

I suffer from bipolar disorder, it isn't who I am, but it is one of the things that defines who I am. My friends and family are aware of it, and aware that I'm being treated for it and give me some understanding because of it. I don't use it as an excuse for my behavior, nor do I go out of my way to announce it to the world. But I'm not ashamed of it either, so if someone asks, or if it comes up in a conversation... then I'm going to be honest and not lie about it either.

 

[Roxi]

This is a very touchy subject really.... As one can tell from previous posts!!!

In my eyes it boils down to 3 factors;

Those who can....

Those who can't....

And those who shouldn't....

This is kind of hard to explain trying to think the best way of going about it without upsetting people if I do please bare in mind I am not meaning to and this is NO way aimed at anyone on here either... Just an FYI
Where mental / personality disorders are a very real issue in everyday life I do feel that some people take advantage of the system i.e Doctors, Pill Mills and people who are truly not bothered with there life style to change it and just say yup I have this such and such disorder that is the reason I am the way I am.... (let me finish before anyone jumps down my throat)

People who can...
I myself suffered from an arrangement of depression issues growing up as a child into my early adult life, I did indeed have a very messed up childhood was in a lot of therapy for it and placed on copious amounts of medication to help me deal with the issues. It got to a point where I was more of a zombie from day to day than a real person, I had little to no emotion and my days just sort of bleed into each other. I got so sick of being a zombie I decided to one day up and quit my meds and make changes in my life to make myself happier and for me it worked. Rather than relying on the pills that were shoved down my throat. Do I fall sometimes....... YES of course I do and I start from square one all over again, and sometimes I do need a little help getting back to where I was happy but for me I was able to take advantage of the fact that I could take control of my life and be a happy person. There are many people out there who can do the same as well but they choose to take the easy road and rely on the pills because doing it the hard way is just to hard and they are lazy.... HOWEVER
People who can't...
There are just as many people out there who unfortunately are not as lucky as I as they can not survive without there medication which is horrible I have seen , met and hold some very close friends like this. People do not seem to understand that sometimes its not the life style these people live in that makes them who they are its in there brains in there chemistry and nothing they can do will make them better so unfortunately they must rely on the meds given to them to balance out. It is these people who I feel are misunderstood and judged as having bad life styles because of those who can survive and those who shouldn't be on medication at all. And I do feel that some of the posts made in this thread are extremely ignorant and I feel sorry for those it offended, apprently you seem to be lumping everyone under one catagorie which is extremely closed minded.
People who shouldn't....
I truly believe that more and more doctors these days (especially here in the states) are just handing medication out to people as a way to keep patients. A person goes into a doctors office complaining of depression, short tempered, lack of sleep whatever the case maybe and rather than dealing with the issue at hand they say "open you mouth and swallow the little blue pill" because if they did not that person would move onto the next doctor until they find someone who will give them the easy fix they are looking for, sad really. And then those who scam they system to get high which is very self explanatory really. There are a lot of people out there who would just rather take a pill to make them happy than deal with life and in all honesty working in a pharmacy has just verified my thoughts to myself cause I see so many people come in and get medication for this that and the other most of which could survive without it but are to lazy to do so and then I see those who are in need of it as well.
Its the people who shouldn't who really make it hard for the people who do need to be on medication to stabilize them that make it difficult for others to understand and for ignorance to exist on this subject.

If there was a pill for every problem in the world wouldn't that just be wonderful.

 

[purpledove]

Not bullshit at all, its a fact i agree with most heartedly. I am of the mind set that we'd be better off if a lot of the mental idiots out there were put back into institutions. Not all, just the ones that can't be normalized by the drugs they should be on. The ones we end up putting in jails we should put to death instead like we would a lame animal.

Oh and bolded the important part just incase you forget to read that part like you did in the other post.:24:

I am sorry, I don't you that well. But I may have to disagree with you on this post. I think you're misled by the popular societal stigma attached with mental illness. It's also not nice when you call them 'mental idiots' as most of them can be highly functional given the chance, medications, support, therapy, understanding and non-judgmental attitudes from the society. Of course, it's quite hard to manage such mental illness. I know too it's a struggle for them. It takes a lot of patience to be able to understand where they're coming from.

Most of them don't choose to be at such a state of mind. They don't have the capacity to be in such unless it's all about Personality disorders without the Psychosis. I disagree that lifestyle itself would be able to cure such. As even given Depression, one can't just easily put aside what they are feeling to be able to get back at living life. You're blessed to be normal but i don't think it gives you the right to pre-judge them as not all needs to be incarcerated nor be placed to death as animals. They are people like us who needs to be respected and accepted for what they are. They have feelings too that need to be acknowledged just like you would expect other normal people treat you in the same way

If they're not normalized as you said given the medications, i would agree they need to be institutionalized, however, it doesn't mean they need to stay there forever as therapy is provided to help them with what they're going through to be able to move back to society which is always the goal.

Mental illness regimen nowadays has shifted to giving them a chance to live a normal life just like we do. They have rights too, you know just like everyone else in society