...The Myth of Mental Illness Mental illness has existed since the dawn of humanity, but has since been perceived and understood in various ways. This essay will examine the contemporary definition of mental illness and how the definition is shaped more by the contemporary society that creates it rather than by real experience and understanding of the state itself. Unavoidably, this examination of a largely misunderstood subject leads to an investigation of the societal and philosophical influences causing the misunderstanding. Indeed, since the subject of mental health and illness is inextricably and directly related to the nature of reality, the nature of mental illness must be considered not in isolation but in conjunction with the nature of reality. Contemporary understanding of mental illness is exemplified by the first two results obtained from a quick search of its definitions on www.dictionary.com. The first definition comes from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, and the second from The American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary: "Any of various conditions characterized by impairment of an individual's normal cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning, and caused by social, psychological, biochemical, genetic, or other factors, such as infection or head trauma. Also called emotional illness, mental disease, mental disorder." "Any of various disorders characterized chiefly by abnormal behavior or an inability to function socially...
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...In the introduction handout, Thomas Szasz is quoted from his book The Myth of Mental Illness as arguing that “mental illness is not an illness at all but merely a failure to cope with normal life”. Even though people who commit a crime should be punished, those who have a mental illness should be treated with a slight difference compared to those who are of competent mind when they commit their crime. It is said that the population of those with a mental illness is higher in prisons than in the general population which is most likely due to the fact that people with mental illnesses are more likely to participate in an act of violent assault or sexual assault than people who do not have a mental illness. (Paraphrased page 9) The insanity defense became popular especially after high profile cases such as Daniel M’Naughten, John Hinckley Jr., and many more. With this defense becoming more common, those opposed to the defense began to make it stricter to use it because some felt it was a “copout” and that it is often abused. One way in which they sought to make the insanity defense stricter is by requiring that for the defense to be used, the perpetrator must not be of sound mind meaning they must not understand the act that they had committed and/or they must not be able to understand that the act was wrong (morally and legally). On the other hand, those who support the insanity defense believe that there are actually not that many cases in which a defendant claims the insanity...
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...dangerousness. Working through PsychArticles she found three likely articles. When she read each, she wrote a paragraph description of each: Alexander, L.A., & Link, B.G. (2003). The impact of contact on stigmatizing attitudes towards people with mental illness. Journal of Mental Health, 12, 271-289. Alexander and Link (2003) examined the stigma of mental illness, perceptions of dangerousness and social distance in a telephone survey. They found that, as a participant’s own life contact with mentally ill individuals increased, participants were both less likely to perceive a target mentally ill individual in a vignette as physically dangerous and less likely to desire social distance from the target. This relationship remained after controlling for demographic and confound variables, such as gender, ethnicity, education, income and political conservatism. They also found that any type of contact – with a friend, a spouse, a family member, a work contact, or a contact in a public place – with mentally ill individuals reduced perceptions of dangerousness of the target in the vignette. Corrigan, P. W., Rowan, D., Green, A., Lundin, R., River, P., Uphoff-Wasowski, K., White, K., & Kubiak, M.A. (2002). Challenging two mental illness stigmas: Personality responsibility and dangerousness. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 28, 293-309. Corrigan, Rowan, Green, Lundin, River, Uphoff-Wasowski, White and Kubiak (2002) conducted two studies to investigate the strength of the theoretical ...
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...Mental Illness Paper HCA/240 Health and Diseases July 24, 2011 “Nervous loss of appetite” is what anorexia nervosa means, and based upon certain misunderstandings, this meaning hasn’t been necessarily good. Most people assume that individuals who are suffering from anorexia nervosa have just made a solid decision that they are no longer going to eat, when in reality, those who are suffering from this mental illness do not at all have a lack of appetite. Being mentally frightened of gaining weight is the main concept of anorexia nervosa. The word “weightfobia” could be used as a better expression for anorexia nervosa. According to Web4Health (2008), “In 1684, anorexia nervosa was described for the first time, but it was not until 1870 that it became identified and described with its own diagnosis.” By then, behavioral scientists and psychologists had a full understanding on anorexia nervosa, but it wasn’t until the 1970s when America began to broadcast the world about this mental illness. 1974 was the year when stories were reported about how young women began to refuse to eat anything, but nobody would go into full detail on how serious the illness was. In 1978, a psychologist named Hilde Bruch wrote a book which was based upon 70 actual cases of young women’s testimonies that related to anorexia nervosa; the book was called, “The Golden Cages.” With the new book is process, Hilde Bruch was able to confirm that this mental illness was becoming more frequent in young women...
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...FAMILY PAMPHLET TO MINIMIZE STIGMA FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH A SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS A project presented to The Faculty and Staff of Saybrook University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (M.A.) in Psychology by R. Paul Johnson San Francisco, CA December 2013 Approval of the Project FAMILY PAMHLET TO MINIMIZ STIGMA FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH A SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS This project by R. Paul Johnson has been approved by the committee member below, who recommended it be accepted by the faculty of Saybrook University in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Psychology Project Committee: Theopia Jackson, Ph.D. Date Abstract FAMILY PAMPHLET TO MINIMZE STIGMA FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH A SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS R. Paul Johnson Saybrook University Individuals with mental illness have long experienced societal prejudice and discrimination, including among healthcare professionals. However, the stigma that comes from family and friends may have greater adverse impact. This project-reviewed literature on the stigmas associated with a diagnosis of a serious mental illness (SMI), as experienced by the person and family, as factors that may contribute to family/friends inadvertently perpetuating stigmas. Therefore this project integrates literature review findings and the author’s personal/professional experiences in the design of a pamphlet intended to be utilized by...
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...communication, June 29, 2015). ("The Portland Rescue Mission" ( 2015 ). Retrieved from http://www.portlandrescuemission.org/learn-more/myths-about-homelessness According to ‘the Portland Rescue Mission’ (2015), “The methodology for finding and counting the homeless is imperfect; we simply do not find everyone”. “Why are they all out there? What is Homelessness and what causes it? Homelessness is a very complicated issue that has no social or economic boundary. Mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence and economic times affect all ages of the Homeless” (G. Davis, personal communication, June 29, 2015). 1. Homelessness and Mental Health Mental Illness seems to be one of the leading causes of homelessness. “During my involvement with the homeless, I knew of a women name Frankie. Frankie was a school teacher, had a husband and two children. One night their home burned down with Frankie’s husband and children being lost in the fire. Frankie lost all rational thinking, not understanding why she lived. Frankie had a complete mental breakdown and ended up on the streets of Dallas homeless. This is a case of mental illness being the cause of homelessness. (G. Davis, personal communication, June 29, 2015). 20-25% of the homeless suffer from mental illness (Portland Rescue Mission. 10 Causes of Homelessness, #3). “Serious mental illness disrupts people’s ability to carry out essential aspect of daily life, such as self-care and household management. Without assistance...
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...Mental Illness Paper HCA 240 5/18/2014 Mental Illness Paper In this paper we will explore the background of Bulimia nervosa, myths, misconceptions, and past treatments. We will discuss the different symptoms, signs, neurotransmitters that may be associated with the illness. The paper will go over the ways that this mental disorder can be treated, and the ways that the environment in which the person may live could have direct effects to the success or failure of their treatment. Describe the way the illness is treated in todays’ society verses the way that this illness was treated in the past. What is Bulimia nervosa which means (ravenous hunger) in latin it is a type of eating disorder, which is potentially life threatening disorder (Mayo Clinic, 2012). Many people with Bulimia take dangerous methods to hide the disorder, from family and friends. People with this mental illness tend to eat large amounts of food at a time this is called Binging (Mayo Clinic, 2012). The second step to this disorder would be Purging bulimia (Mayo Clinic, 2012). The purging part of bulimia would be when a person regularly makes themselves through up even in times when they do not need to (Mayo Clinic, 2012). The other side of Bulimia is non-purging bulimia, which is when the person decides to go about other methods to get rid of calories (Mayo Clinic, 2012). For example, they over exercise, start fasting just to lose weight or to cut calories. The history of bulimia could be dated back...
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...Mental Illness Paper Carolyn Maxine Hughes HCR/240 University of Phoenix Dr. Mary Lou Jenkins 3/10/2012 Abstract In this paper, I will be attempting to the mental illness of ADHD (attention deficit disorder). In the first paragraph there will be a discussion on the history, including any myths or misconceptions of ADHD. In some of the other paragraph there will be a detailed discussion of the other points such as the neurotransmitters that are associated with this type of a illness. I will try to familiarize individuals as to how the environment in which they stay in will detract from a successful treatment of ADHD. In the final paragraph I will discuss how the treatments today of this illness compare to the diagnosis and treatments of the past. A list of the professionals involved in the treatment, diagnosis of ADHD will also be mentioned. Mental Illness Paper Attention deficit disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue on through adolescence and adulthood. Some symptoms may include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over- activity). ADHD is characterized by prominent symptoms of inattention and/ or hyperactivity and impulsivity. These symptoms can lead to difficulty in academic, emotional, and social functioning. Studies in the United States indicate approximately 8%- 10% of children satisfy diagnostic criteria for...
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...a severe mental condition that causes a person to have emotions that are extremely intense and unpredictable. Individuals with this condition will change from ultimate cheerfulness, energy, and clarity to complete anguish, fatigue, and agitation. Suffering from this condition could lead to suicide. The individual can experience moods that are highly elevated that can last a minimum of a week and make the person unable to function. This mood change is known as manic or mania. When the individual experiences these elevated changes they may not necessarily become depressed (American Psychological Association, 2013). Understanding the history of bipolar disorder may help one to understand the signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments. As early as the 1st Century, Aretaeus of Cappadocia took the time to keep track of the symptoms of the disorder. He had made note of the relationship between depression and mania that went unnoticed for centuries. The Ancient Greeks and Romans began to use the terms “mania” and “melancholia”. Religious views pointed out that individuals with the disorder were thought to be possessed, so they were often put to death. Robert Burton wrote a book entitled The Anatomy of Melancholy in the 17th Century. The book addressed treatment for melancholy, the effects of depression, and a commentary of depression. Theophilus Bonet published Sepuchretum later in that century. He completed thousands of autopsies and linked mania and melancholy to an illness called manico-melancolicus...
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...Naomi Warner Mental Illness: Bipolar Disorder HCA/240 Bipolar disorder is perhaps one of the oldest known illnesses. Research reveals some mention of the symptoms in early medical records. It was first noticed as far back as the second century. Arêtes of Cappadocia (a city in ancient Turkey) first recognized some symptoms of mania and depression, and felt they could be linked to each other. His findings went unnoticed and unsubstantiated until 1650, when a scientist named Richard Burton wrote a book, The Anatomy of Melancholia, which focused specifically on depression. His findings are still used today by many in the mental health field, and he is credited with being the father of depression as a mental illness. Jules Falret coined term "folie circulaire" (circular insanity) in 1854, and established a link between depression and suicide. His work led to the term bipolar disorder, as he was able to find a distinction between moments of depression and heightened moods. He recognized this to be different from simple depression, and finally in 1875 his recorded findings were termed Manic-Depressive Psychosis, a psychiatric disorder. Another lesser-known fact attributed to Falret is that he found the disease seemed to be found in certain families thus recognizing very early that there was a genetic link. In 1913, Emil Krapelin established the term manic-depressive, with an exhaustive study surrounding the effects of depression and a small portion about the manic state...
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...Mental Illness Evettelitsia Narvaez HCA/240 October 3, 2015 Lucretia Wright Philosophers have written historical documents indicating the long-term existence of depression. The first historical understanding of depression was a form of spiritual or mental illness rather than a physical one. Some individuals occasionally feel sad due to numerous things that take place in their personal life. The feelings improve after a couple of days. However, depression interferes with an individual’s daily life and affects their loved ones. Depression is common but is still taken as serious as any mental illness. Although, not all persons who suffer from depression seek the proper medical attention their mental state requires. Some myths years ago were people believed individuals who had mental illnesses were possessed by demons and for some countries some individuals still believe this myth. Families would call their pastor or priest to handle the individual who was experiencing the mental illness. The individual's family mindset has hope or faith that there would be a change in their loved one's mental health. The signs and symptoms of depression are persistent sad, anxious, feeling empty, difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions. Other symptoms are overeating or loss of appetite. Individuals who suffer from major depression experiences a loss of interest in activities that once brought them joy, such as sexual intercourse. The individual suffering...
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...led globalization of mental health has increased the interest of public health officials and psychiatrists throughout the world. The Cultural and social values, and attitudes of a particular society influence the beliefs that people have about mental illness. The knowledge about mental illness has spread globally, and it has begun to break down some of the barriers between cultures and countries. There has been a substantial increase in research on the stigma related to mental illness; however, the stigmatization of people with mental illness continues to cause discrimination. Stigma, myths and misconceptions lead to discrimination. In addition to the many aspects of discrimination that have been discussed it is important to know that the mentally ill in our society often lose their ability to make decisions. The stigmatizing beliefs concerning mental illness have given the public and lawmakers an opportunity to control the mentally ill. Due to discrimination, the mentally ill have blatantly suffered many human rights violations. Society can improve this situation by continuing their education effort and enforcing legislation in order to help the mentally ill feel more accepted by society. Globalization has increased the communication and interaction of people between countries and cultures; specifically, it has influenced the exchange of ideas concerning mental health. Ethan Watters points out in his article called “The Americanization of Mental Illness” that “For more than...
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...Section 1: Borderline personality disorder is a serious mental illness marked by unstable moods, behavior, and relationships. Because some people with severe borderline personality disorder have brief psychotic episodes, experts originally thought of this illness as atypical, or borderline, versions of other mental disorders. While mental health experts now generally agree that the name "borderline personality disorder" is misleading, a more accurate term does not exist yet. The symptoms of borderline disorder were first described in the medical literature over 3000 years ago. The disorder has gained increasing visibility over the past three decades. The full spectrum of symptoms of borderline disorder typically first appears in the teenage years and early twenties. Although some children with significant behavioral disturbances may develop readily diagnosable borderline disorder as they get older, it is very difficult to make the diagnosis in children. It is estimated that more than 14 million American adults, distributed equally between men and women, have borderline personality disorder. It is more common than schizophrenia or bipolar disorder: an estimated 11% of outpatients, 20% of psychiatric inpatients and 6% of primary care visits meet the criteria for the disorder. Obtaining an accurate diagnosis can be difficult. As ,ost patients with bipolar disorder go years before receiving an appropriate diagnosis and starting mood stabilizers[1] As with all personality disorders...
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...two people of the same sex getting married was un heard of, the topic of mental health was a taboo subject which everyone believed to keep secret….but now it is encouraged to share our stories. Not only our people sharing their stories with their friends, they are sharing them on a global scale and starting a conversation. Demi Lovato has been an active advocate for mental health for the past few years. When she left rehab she decided to make a change, that it was time for the world to talk about mental health issues, to no longer hide from them. In May of 2013 she released her single ‘Warrior’....
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...I am a firm believer that social stigma does exist against individuals who seek treatment for mental health concerns. This topic really hits home for two reasons. One, I have A.D.D., and two, I suffer from depression. It took me a while to say these things out loud. I cried when I was diagnosed because I did not want to rely on medication for me to function normally. I also didn't want people to look at me different. Even though I have accepted it, I still get people who think it is all in my head. They really think it is something that I can fix if I concentrate harder, or think happier thoughts. I have had a close friend tell me that depression is not even a real thing. Social stigma is out there. As stated in the artical, "No shame, no blame:...
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