Misconceptions about Mentall Illness

Many people still do not understand mental illness and there is a great deal of myths surrounding this condition. Mental illness is a serious disorder that causes mild to severe disturbances in thinking, perception and behavior. You can’t just shake it off, anymore than you shake off cancer, diabetes or heart disease. Many mental illnesses can be caused by biological factors, including chemical imbalances in the brain. That being the case, mental disorders can be treated medically and they have been major breakthroughs in medications in recent years. However, there are still common misconceptions that persist among society regarding the mentally ill.

Myths and Misconceptions:

The Blame Game

Many victims of mental illness and their families feel that there is someone to blame for their illness. They wear themselves out emotionally trying to figure what went wrong in their lives or trying to remember what significant event took place that caused the disorder. It is natural to want to blame someone or something when things go wrong or bad in life.

Because of the lack of understanding or knowledge about the cause of mental illness, victims blame themselves and that they are the cause of their own pain, even when they are not. In addition to all this, parents, spouses and siblings rack their own minds trying to figure out what went wrong or what they did to caused the problem.

Assigning blame causes unnecessary pain and suffering for all concerned. It takes time and energy away, when it could be put to much better use for understanding and proper diagnoses and treatment. Victims and their loved ones are better off increasing their understanding, patience, love and forgiveness, while eliminating denial, anger and rejection.

Lack of Will

Another common misperception about the mentally ill is the belief that they should just snap out of it and deal with life. This shows an obvious lack of knowledge and compassion. The truth is that mentally ill people cannot, through a force of will power, get over the situation they are experiencing. They need help, encouragement, proper treatment and guidance.

If one truly witnessed the sadness and pain of someone suffering from depression, who cries all day and tries to commit suicide, they would see first-hand how someone cannot overcome their illness through sheer will power. We do not tell people with cancer or diabetes to grow up and get over it for that would be cruel and uncompassionate. It is equally cruel and uncompassionate to treat people with mental illness in this manner.

Dangerously or Criminally Violent

Through the media, there are stereotypical portrayals of mentally ill people as crazed and violent lunatics, bent on hurting anybody or anything. They are seen as dangerous to themselves and to others and therefore should be locked up. The vast majority of mentally ill people are not violent and a great majority of violent crimes are committed by people who are not mentally ill. In the instances that mentally ill people do become violent, it is because they feel threatened or under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

The last forty years have produced various new medications that have been very effective for the mentally ill. With medication, treatment and support programs, they do not need to be locked up and can live productive lives in society. Mentally ill people receiving proper treatment can establish themselves in any given profession and live fruitful lives with families.

Hopefully this hub has enlightened you about the common misconceptions about mental illness and helped to build understanding.  Plus may it also remove any stigma or biases about a very serious problem. Through knowledge and understanding, you helped to create love, empathy and acceptance. And that is exactly what people with mental illness need.