Let’s Talk Common Misunderstandings about Mental Illnesses

VintageBetter

VintageBetter

Senior Member
Wow. Here’s a good list for starters:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/ar...nceptions#7.-Addiction-is-a-lack-of-willpower
1. Mental health problems are uncommon
2. Panic attacks can be fatal
3. People with mental health conditions cannot work
4. Mental health problems are a sign of weakness
5. Only people without friends need therapists
6. Mental health problems are permanent
7. Addiction is a lack of willpower
8. People with schizophrenia have a split personality
9. Eating disorders only affect females
10. Eating disorders are a lifestyle choice
11. All people with a mental illness are violent

Here’s some more myths:
https://mindremakeproject.org/2018/05/06/9-myths-and-misconceptions-about-mental-illness/
 

I got these two from a forum I go to:

"mental illness does not make your harm of others acceptable."


"they're not just responsible for the moment the thing happened, but also any devastating consequences of their actions." And when this person posted this, the "thing" was abuse.

People need to realize also that their are victims of mental illness.
 

Good points @Remy that people who have mental illness are responsible for what they choose to do.

If someone has mental illness so bad that they are unable to control themselves & their actions, then they need to be put in an institution designed to handle those issues. Releasing people with meds & expecting them to take them once they are back in society doesn't work at all.

They do not need to be released back onto the streets or dumped in the jail/prison system which is not designed to house & care for the mentally ill. Sadly, it's become the norm to put them in jail/prison systems because we lack proper mental health hospitals.
 
VintageBetter said:
Wow. Here’s a good list for starters:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/ar...nceptions#7.-Addiction-is-a-lack-of-willpower
1. Mental health problems are uncommon
2. Panic attacks can be fatal
3. People with mental health conditions cannot work
4. Mental health problems are a sign of weakness
5. Only people without friends need therapists
6. Mental health problems are permanent
7. Addiction is a lack of willpower
8. People with schizophrenia have a split personality
9. Eating disorders only affect females
10. Eating disorders are a lifestyle choice
11. All people with a mental illness are violent

Here’s some more myths:
https://mindremakeproject.org/2018/05/06/9-myths-and-misconceptions-about-mental-illness/
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I'm surprised that anyone believes these "myths" I thought people were way more educated about mental illness by now.
 
Modern Psycho Drugs possibly don't work all that well. The Sanitariums are closed up.
Their yards are kept meticulously. The mental illness is all about us. Today an 18-wheeler
sat in the middle of 2 lanes between traffic control devices green no Lights flashing and him
sitting there with traffic slowly moving around him & he on his Cell. He pulls ahead 20' - 30'
stops again, still on his Cellular. Sure self-aware! The traffic ahead of him 200' away.
__________________________________________________________

Surely That's truly what's happening people. 9 out of 10 are face in the Cell Phone Plate !
Ladies fall off buildings and cliffs taking selfies. That how crazy it is.
__________________
So are we the lucky ones, talking on a Forum sitting in a chair at our place or traveling at 60 mph + ? ... (y)
 
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Not all people with mental illness are dangerous. However, there are some who are & those individuals need the kind of help that can only be provided by facilities designed for that. These are people who cannot be on the street on their own because they can & will do bad things to others.

You then have people with mental issues who have been released from a hospital that will refuse to take their meds when they are out. They'll tell you they don't have any problems & that nothing is wrong with them &/or the meds they have been given is really a poison. These people need to go back to a treatment center for help & this ends up being a repeated cycle.

You do have people who can & will take their meds without any issue.

The sad thing is, we really need modern mental health facilities that can take care of those who can't take care of themselves. This would also protect the public from those who would do serious harm to them by keeping them off of the street.
 
Lilac said:
Not all people with mental illness are dangerous. However, there are some who are & those individuals need the kind of help that can only be provided by facilities designed for that. These are people who cannot be on the street on their own because they can & will do bad things to others.

You then have people with mental issues who have been released from a hospital that will refuse to take their meds when they are out. They'll tell you they don't have any problems & that nothing is wrong with them &/or the meds they have been given is really a poison. These people need to go back to a treatment center for help & this ends up being a repeated cycle.

You do have people who can & will take their meds without any issue.

The sad thing is, we really need modern mental health facilities that can take care of those who can't take care of themselves. This would also protect the public from those who would do serious harm to them by keeping them off of the street.
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You have a very good point. 50% on the loose out there are Crazy! 2 out of three driving will cut you off turning left if they can get the outside lane. Haha Most likely knowing how to fix it will not happen for the most part. Banning Cell Phone from all Public display could help a lot. Of course B connections have to end in public also.
 
A common myth that seems to be a recent one is that if show sympathy for some people with mental illness, you need to show sympathy for all people with mental illness.

One version of this is if you want sympathy and understanding for your mental illness, you must show sympathy for all people with mental illness.

On the surface, this seems fair. But it is often used to say you must feel sympathy for people who are physically or emotionally abusive because of their mental health issues. And this is told to people who have been victims of abuse.
 
People assume that because a person with mental illness is prescribed medications that those medications actually will work. Not always. And I can absolutely assure you that a person can be taking their medications and still become manic..and psychotic. And then they no longer take them.
 
Muskrat said:
People assume that because a person with mental illness is prescribed medications that those medications actually will work. Not always. And I can absolutely assure you that a person can be taking their medications and still become manic..and psychotic. And then they no longer take them.
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One of the great complexities about mental illness is that medications ALONE have only been proven to help about 60% of the time. This is not true with every mental illness. Some meds applied to some conditions are very reliable.

But I’m no expert, not by any means. I’m only reporting what I have read.

It’s sad/funny - after a person has a heart attack, meds are often prescribed, but so are LIFESTYLE CHANGES. I’ll bet a lot of mental health patients need LIFESTYLE CHANGES too.

Example: Maybe a psychiatrist could write a PRESCRIPTION for HOUSING? Maybe if a psychiatrist told a court or social services that, “This patient needs permanent, stable housing ASAP as a lifestyle change to get and keep better”, then maybe our &*^%#$@ politicians would LISTEN to the shrink and create housing?

Prescription for housing: for those in charge who just don’t give a damn anymore. The doctor has said you must give this sick person housing, STAT.
 
VintageBetter said:
Example: Maybe a psychiatrist could write a PRESCRIPTION for HOUSING? Maybe if a psychiatrist told a court or social services that, “This patient needs permanent, stable housing ASAP as a lifestyle change to get and keep better”,
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You are right. How can one get better without a stable environment? You are right to see this as a necessity in care.
 
Some people are in situations that are inherently stressful or depressing. So it should come as no surprise if they have anxiety or depression.

I have seen well meaning people tell those in really horrible situations to try yoga and meditation. And sometimes that can help a little. But it really isn't enough.

Some lifestyle changes are things we can do on our own, but other things are not.

Attitude can help, as well as doing what we can to improve our situation. But sometimes helping just means making things less bad. For example, if you are poor, learning how to make cheap nutritious meals can help your situation. But you still have lots of issues to deal with.
 
The issue is what do we do with the idea that everyone - or almost everyone - has mental issues of some type.

Do we treat everyone with compassion because they are probably dealing with things we don't know about?

Do we provide understanding when people share their issues with us?

Or do we tell them to stop whining because everyone has issues?

Can we give everyone sympathy - NOT pity?

Can we recognize that some people have more serious issues than others, without being dismissive of people who have less serious issues?
 
KathyB1968 said:
The issue is what do we do with the idea that everyone - or almost everyone - has mental issues of some type.

Do we treat everyone with compassion because they are probably dealing with things we don't know about?

Do we provide understanding when people share their issues with us?

Or do we tell them to stop whining because everyone has issues?

Can we give everyone sympathy - NOT pity?

Can we recognize that some people have more serious issues than others, without being dismissive of people who have less serious issues?
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In my opinion 'we' can do nothing except to mind our own business, to stop trying to control --to push our opinions on --everyone. Rather to observe and listen and hopefully put away the dangerous ones. To help when intervention is needed or asked for.
 
KathyB1968 said:
The issue is what do we do with the idea that everyone - or almost everyone - has mental issues of some type.

Do we treat everyone with compassion because they are probably dealing with things we don't know about?
Click to expand...
I like your list but how would this get done? Sounds a bit like a nice fantasy, albeit a good one.
 
Why, it's built like a leaf and will burn up easily on its own.

MSN

Money better invested for mental issues then the above, those stated above are truly crazy speedsters!
 
Psych medications are designed to reduce symptoms by way of sedating overactive chemicals and their responses. Psychiatric drugs can cause terrible life changing side effects, including death. I was a pill popper so taking medication was part of the thrill until the prescribed medication actually worked and I quit experimenting. My view of life is unappreciative I did not sign up for this and I wish I never existed. This may be disturbing to some people but before life I was content in the prelife mode.
 
Mr. Ed said:
I did not sign up for this and I wish I never existed.
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The only healthy way to live life is to learn to like all the little everyday things – like a sip of good whiskey in the evening, a soft bed, a glass of buttermilk, or a feisty gentleman like myself. --Captain Augustus McCrae, LONESOME DOVE
 

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