Does mental illness exist or are we all just terrified to deal with our demons?

Question

Schizophrenia, dementia and OCD I can accept as illnesses, because there are actual changes to the structure of the brain. But bi polar disorder, social anxiety, panic attacks and depression ? Yes behavioral modification could be helpful, but are they really "illnesses"?

Answer 1

u answered ur own question. whatever you deem as an illness, I'm unable to live with someone bi-polar off their meds. Illness behavior...the ways in which an individual acts or reacts to his or her own illness or the illness of a family member

Answer 2

I am not an expert, but I thought that depression and bi-polar disorder had discernable physical effects on the brain. Anti-depressants, such as Prozac, stimulate serotins or something. Also I heard that some research points to a lack of certain amino acids for some mood disorders, and that supplementing one's diet with these things can help. In short I think that some of things identified here are physical illnesses.

However, I would assign a much broader definition to "illness." It is something that causes a person to live their life less fully. People feel unwell, and they know it. For me, that alone is sufficient.

I think that the definition of what a physical illness is fluctuates, depending on our knowledge of the human brain and our own attitudes toward mental illnesses.

Answer 3

I'm not a psychiatrist, but my observance is that bi polar disorder certainly can change one's life. It is treated by a psychiatrist with psychotropic drugs. It can make the person more normal. I think it is a disease that people have by degree, i.e. some have worse problems than others. Medication is a great help! I know someone who is untreated with panic attacks, that is probably by degree also. I wish she could accept medication and have a normal life. The patient usually does not think he/she is ill. Their eyes are blinded so to speak as they do not see their behavior being out of the norm. Normal, my definition, is not doing things that put ones self at risk, or treating others with disrespect to the point that the police have to be called. Disorderly conduct without drinking alcohol. I don't know the proper description. Where is our Psychiatrist to answer this question?

Answer 4

The brain is an organ just like any other. It can be injured, be sick, or diseased like any other. If your heart is diseased you will have circulatory related problems. If your lungs are diseased you will have respiratory problems. If your BRAIN is diseased, then you will have problems with mood, concentration, sleep, depression, etc....

Yes, mental illness is real. Some people's brains are just wired wrong. Mine included. It's just hard for some people to understand it because the brain is very complex, and even doctors and scientists dont know how it works completely.

Answer 5

Well, some are not exactly 'illnesses'--most of them are just states of your own mind, like depression. Depression doesn't really harm you, it's just how glum you feel.

Having panic attacks is bad, but it's not really an 'illness', that you can cure with medicine. You can take medicine to stop them, but it isn't a disease. You can't control those.

Being bi polar is, I would say, not a disease--but definitly not something you get when you don't want to face reality. Being bi polar is usually something that you can't control.

And social anxiety, like depression, is pretty much just a problem with yourself and can be fixed by simply cheering up!

Answer 6

well as they say the earth is the center of the universe i don't know if that is still true , but one think i know it's true is that the brain leads most of the decision making. so yes social anxiety is a disease Rather than a demond think.

Answer 7

The diseases you "can't accept" have been proven to be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. That's why they can be controlled or fixed with drugs which fix the imbalance.
Unless you think "demons" cause chemical imbalances?

Answer 8

That is somthin i really dont know if i beleive in them. I think that alot of people just dont know or dont want to accept dificulties of life. I dont think that every case of anxiety needs medication, but most of them just need counseling to educate themselfves how to accept stresses of life. When i think about it, depression dosnt make since somtimes. There are people living in the ghetto, trying to make a living day to day in terible living conditions, and yet you never hear about those people having depression. I only hear about upper middle class people having depression. Whatever..........

Answer 9

I think we all have our problems and are scared to deal with them yet we still manage to cope. I think mental illness manifest itself when we remain in denial or have no productive coping solutions.

Answer 10

"Whether we are terrified or not to deal with our demons" depends on our state of mind. One may be frustrated with himself today, but may feel that his greatest inner irregularity to be his greatest strength on an another day.