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