Mental illness vs. Physical illness
 

In "Empathy and the Practice of Medicine", Howard Spiro provides a case-study on how young doctors make jokes about someone with mental illness and tries to get the reader to understand what sympathy and empathy are in this scenario by cementing that mental illness is an illness just like any physical illness.

But it's not just the same. One forces other people to be affected by you on a daily basis through any interaction you have with them.

So how do you all feel? Do you dislike the "psychos" or are they really just sick souls that need compassion and understanding?

-Rudey

Re: Mental illness vs. Physical illness
 

I thought they just needed votes to get into office...

Re: Re: Mental illness vs. Physical illness
 

I tried to make this into a funny joke but it just won't do. Please rewrite something I can work with.

http://www.slowchildren-atplay.com/

-Rudey

Well, there are some physical illnesses that can affect those that deal with the sick person on a daily basis . . . and mental illnesses that are well-controlled may affect others very little.

In general, though, I don't think it's that strange that people make jokes about mental illness -- people make jokes about things that make them uncomfortable, and mental illness makes most people uncomfortable. I think one of the major problems is that, as a whole, we understand physical illness much better than we understand mental illness. I mean, you take diabetes versus schizophrenia . . . And especially because there is a much larger emotional aspect when it comes to dealing with those with mental illnesses, I think that makes them especially hard to deal with. You take somebody who's got cancer, and most people will understand if they're in a bad mood one day. You can't say the same about somebody who's suffering from severe depression.

I have a mental illness so what's up? Am I sick and need compassion or should I be locked away?

Aren't the physical illnesses you brought up really affecting others through mental illnesses?

-Rudey

I take this approach in life. I won't make judgements on what people can't control, and mental illness falls under that. But it doesn't mean I have to enjoy being around any loonies. I have enough on my plate choosing what beer to drink, what muscle group to work out, and really which WB show to watch; I don't need this on there too.

Now their interactions with me: Well those do affect me. If someone has a gnarly face, it doesn't affect me. If someone keeps cursing on the bus while I'm trying to read or being a real weirdo in class because he can't sit still, then that's different.

Just putting it out there.

-Rudey

I suffer from ADHD. I will be accepting compassion in the form of monetary donations. Please PM me for details.

Fine, but I will be taxing said donations.

-Rudey

I suffer from ADHD too...it's a good time!

In all seriousness though, I think people who have more debilitating mental diseases deserve the same courtesies that people with severe physical illnesses have. Sometimes these mental illnesses can affect people more severely than physical illness. People may be able to have congestive heart failure and still hold down a job. Someone who is schizophrenic may not be able to hold down a job depending on the severity.

It is difficult working with many people with mental illness. I have found that not only do many of the people I work with have the "primary diagnosis" they are dealing with but a whole host of other problems as well (ie. substance abuse, housing issues, financial difficulties, family losses, lack of support network, history of mental/physical/sexual abuse, etc.). It is really hard as well when people cannot control symptoms of their mental illness and/or personality disorder and it can be really difficult to make any real impact for the positive in their lives. For example, I work with many delusional clients who have set beliefs in different things. No matter what, I am not going to be able to change their mind about their belief. It's like saying to me that I never went to Social Work school and I am not a Social Worker. Then you have the whole stigma issue thrown in, as well. A lot of times it comes down to just working by a harm reduction model with some of these clients. With the physical stuff, it is hard too because many people suffer from psychosomatic illnesses which are not really real but they think they are real but how do I tell someone they are not really suffering pain when they feel they are?

Rudey,

you are nothing without me. This thread sucks. I am here to save it,

Viva La Tiki Barber!

You're only here because you made some disgusting comment about only hitting on girls with mental problems because they were more vulnerable.

-Rudey

Quit IMing me telling me how you scored with the guy from " Life Goes On"

You mean your dad?

-Rudey

Yes, quit hooking up with my dad...that is wrong in every aspect.

How many post do you think this will last till it gets closed?


I kicked ass yesterday in Fantasy football. Our boy Longwell is kicking tonight so I'll get more points for sure. Whats up with Hasselback? F'er better step it up. How did you do?

I'm down in points 34-50 in one of the leagues (the one with hasselback, Longwell, and Tiki. That league is kinda tight right now and it's not the easiest.

-Rudey

Mental illness is like physical illness, just the only symptoms are in higher brain function and the causes of it are not well understood. Some compassion and a lot of research are in order.

I'm not so worried about people with obvious symptoms (unless violent), it is those who appear normal on surface only to find out later that they are batshit crazy. But, yeah, I do think people who have moderate to severe mental illness deserve the same compassion. It is a lot easier to say than do, though.

What if they're nuts and stupid too? Then can you bitchslap them?

-Rudey

I am unsure of what you are asking as far as extending courtesies to folks who have mental illnesses?

Your brain is an "organ" too, and it can get sick, just like all other organs... So, if a child gets menningitis but heals from it with treatment, it does not mean that later in this person's life-such as adulthood-a mental illness would not manifest itself...

There is a strong correlation between manic-depressive disorder and type 2 diabetes. The brain uses glucose for energy production. The depolarization and hyperpolarization on the down the axons drive the energy force to send the neurotransmitters to other neurons or nerve endings. One defective neurotransmitter release is seretonin reuptake. The SSRI's tackle that problem and many people carry single nucleotide polymorphisms in the 5'HT transporter that may cause a predisposition to some types of bipolar disorders...

Lithium depresses the thyroid hormone release... But helps with Alzheimer's...

Lamictal can cause seizure disorders, but helps with bipolar disorders...

So, I am unsure what you mean with lack of interacting with folks that have mental problems...

In fact, folks that start to have early onset of a heart attack seem to become more violent--the flight or fight response--irritable and angry... Then they have the heart attack...

So, folks bodies do response to not only physical ques but also mental ones...