Do you believe in mental illness? Why?
There’s really no such thing as “believing” in mental illnesses. Mental illnesses are neurobiological disorder, and are just as real as a broken arm. If you scan someone with a mental disorder’s mind, you’ll see they’re significantly different than someone without a mental illness;Mental illnesses aren’t just some random idea, they’re a proven thing that affects the way people think, behave, and more. It’s always been surprising to me how many people deny the existence of mental illnesses, as if it’ll just make them go away. This is just a hurtful practice that makes people more ashamed of their disorders, worried that society’ll think they’re just making it up for attention, as you seem to believe.
Do you believe faith can take away mental illness?
Atheists will love this:psychotherapy clients who are referred by their pastor or church, in my experience, are much more troubled than the average client.Athiests will hate this:There is abundant research evidence that having and practicing a religious faith is inversely correlated with mental illness. The strength if correlation is substantial. Above .40. In other words, more potent than many treatments.So. . . These clients referred by churches? Their faith, the social support derived from their church affiliation, amd whatever other curative factors in the mix having failed to help … It only makes sense that they will be really messed up. We don’t see in the clinic the ones who were adequately “treated” by faith, or exercise, or vitamins, or a loving and supportive social network.But separating faith alone from the other related aspects (social support from a caring pastor, participation in community activities etc), one thing that religious faith promotes is a view that adversity is a test, typically with an associated belief that G-d does not bring tests that cannot be surmounted. (This view doesn’t square for me with the doctrine of free will, but I’m no theologian). It is one thing to feel alone in a cold, dark, G-dless universe with ones suffering. It is quite another to believe “G-d is testing me now. What is my response? Will I surrender and wallow? Will I rise to the occasion?”As an observer of people at their worst, I can tell you that those with faith, who can construe adversity as a test, tend to find the capacity to dig deep and keep fighting.
What causes mental illness?
Hallucinating due to mental illness is usually associated with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, psychotic mania or depression. The cause is genetic but it is thought to typically takes some stressful life event to trigger the illness. Occasionally, drug use is the trigger. There are meds that can control the illness for most. All are progressive (get worse) illnesses when left unmedicated, so treatment sooner with med compliance leads to much higher functioning. Btw, these diseases are thought to be genetic, so if you did not inherit the genes, you won't get them.
What causes mental illness?
I didn't see it but here's what I tell people: If you’re a teen, remember that the teen years are the absolute worst time of your life. I'm surprised any of us survive it. You are struggling with so much stress, pressures, changes... Your body and mind are trying to cope but ... it's hard. The brain is a very complicated and delicate thing. It can get messed up and be unable to produce any or enough serotonin. This is called a chemical imbalance which is easily treated, very common and nothing to be ashamed of. It can cause depression, anxiety, panic, obsession, self harm/self hatred, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, sleeping problems, aggression/rage, anger, phobias, fears, helplessness/hopelessness, hypochondria, ADHD, paranoia, OCD, headaches, lack of interest in things, lack of motivation/ focus and much more. Go to a dr. and ask for anti-depressants. Sertraline is a good one; most people thrive on it and it has no side effects. With antidepressants, you will be much better, happier, calmer, confident, safer and feel normal. What a difference it makes! Therapists are mostly a waste of time and money. They aren’t even allowed to prescribe appropriate meds to help you get better. Don’t stop taking the meds once you start to feel better. You need them, so stay on them.
Why doesn't my vegan friend believe in mental illness?
Because your friend is an idiot.He knows nothing about mental illness or mental health treatment.YOU need to ignore him.Your friend is the type of horrible and dangerous person who undermines the seriousness of mental illness by thinking he knows better than mental health professionals.He is a horrible and disrespectful person who does not believe your mental illness(s) diagnosis or the heredity of mental illness in your family. He is denying your truth and basically calling you a liar.Your friend is really NOT your friend. He belittles you by calling you a “drama queen” and even worse he is JEOPARDIZING YOUR LIFE by encouraging you to quit your medications.Do I need to remind you that 21% of people with untreated bipolar II disorder commit suicide?I think you need to unfriend him.
What would you say to someone who doesn't believe in mental illnesses?
Ask them their reason for being skeptical. As I see it, not believing in mental disease has two levels. First there are those that simply reject that the mind has an ontological instantiation. This means that they can still believe that the brain is physically disrupted, but maintain that all mental disorders are simply a product of some physical function(s) and need to be treated the same way that people with physical afflictions need to be treated--emphasizing pharmecuetical treatment as the most important kind of therapy. The second level would be people who believe that afflictions such as adhd or schizophrenia do not exist either mentally or physically in the brain--that they are instead socially fabricated myths that are de dicto and not de se about the issue. My response to those in the first camp is to ask them why they do not believe in a mind, and then go on to show how there is no reliable medical model that can accurately pinpoints differences between, say, brains across populations of people with a disease such as schizophrenia, compared to brains of people in healthy populations--a major worry if we believe that the brain is somehow physically effected by the pathology. The next thing I would do would be to suggest drawing a distinction between disorders of the brain and disorders in the brain. The latter includes things that we know have a somatic basis: For instance, dementia--where we can point to anatomical and neurological differences in the brain of those afflicted with the disorder, and otherwise healthy populations. My response to those in the second camp is to politely nod my head at their stubborn skepticism.
Mental Illness, Spirituality, and Religion?
ALL things have both physical and spiritual causes (as they are tied together) including mental and physical health as well as the health of the environment, society, etc. When there is any problem, it has a superficial (or natural) solution that can help and it also has a spiritual solution that helps even better in all cases. Some cases there is no physical solution and only a spiritual one but all problems need to be approached both ways!