Mental Illness is a Life-Sentence. Do you agree or disagree with me?

Question

I've been diagnosed with several things in the past few months. I'm feeling a little doomed.

So what do you guys think? Helps if you have experience with mental illness, but any opinions would be great!

Answer 1

i understand where you are coming from, but i still would like to hope that it is not a permanent life sentence and that there is still hope. I guess i can't give up yet. I have a friend with a serious mental illness and i have to believe that she will learn to deal with it because it is too painful for me to think of her as having this pain for the rest of her life. Also i have depression and anxiety. I don't want to be like this all my life so i have to keep hoping. (Just a quibble to jackie - being retarded is actually a learning difficulty not a mental illness, sorry that was bugging me).

Answer 2

I think it totally depends on the individual. Some people have more severe forms of mental illness, and even of a certain type of mental illness (like I have bipolar disorder) there are different levels of severity.

Some people take pills and get counselling and have such good results, that as long as they take care of themselves, their life is totally "normal."

Others have mental illnesses really bad and can't hold down a job and may even have to be in a group home because they can't manage their day to day affairs. This can be the case with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and some people with depression. (but most with these conditions CAN maintain their own housing). A lot of times it's only that bad for a small part of a person's life, too. These illnesses often get better and worse over time.

I think counselling, getting help, taking any appropriate medications, making healthy lifestyle choices, all make your odds a lot better. And even if it turns out that you are on the more extreme end of things, that you can't hold down a job, that doesn't mean you can't have a rich and fulfilling life. It will just be a different life than others.

Answer 3

Mental Illness can be a life sentence, but depending on the illness, you don't always have to be doing hard time. Life has many things that will always be there. Poverty, Obesity, Physical Handicaps to mention a few. Yet people are able to live a full life with these burdens and so can those with mental disabilities. The key to all of these situations is learning to accept and understand your disability, and to work within you ability, and hopefully overcome your situation. Many people share your illness and have utilized, or even developed, programs that will assist you in living life to the fullest. Your job is to explore the different techniques that are suggested and utilize the ones that work best for you. This could be through medication, counseling, meditation, exercises or a combination. I'm not sure of your diagnosis, but one general rule would be to stay healthy. Eat well, exercise, and make sure and get out of the house.
You can do it! Good Luck

Answer 4

If there is life there is hope. I believe that with the right care, you can overcome many obstacles created by having a mental illness. Medical attention such as therapy and talking to others that are experts in your mental illness will help you. Also there are some medications that work for some people and that can make a hige difference. So my answer is no, Mental illness is not a life sentence, because you can improve your quality of life with small changes and you are in control on your life.

Answer 5

Well when you get diagnosed with anything that is long term we tend to feel doomed. I have been diagnosed with depression for about 9 years now and recently bi-polar disorder. I felt worse after that diagnosis but worse after I found out I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and even worse after I found out I have Osteoporosis and even worse I got diagnosed with a kidney disease, I could keep going... oh and i'm only 31.

See, when you think it can't get any worse, it is worse for someone else. If I can make it work, so can you. Be glad or be hopeful that there is treatment for mental illnesses thanks to modern medicine and the pursuit of studies in mental health.

Life sentence, no. I would say it is always something that can be treated. I know I felt doomed when I was diagnosed. But be hopeful, I call my meds my happy pills. You'll get here eventually.

Answer 6

I can't agree or disagree without knowing if there is helpful therapy and/or medication for your type of illness.

They are coming out with new meds all the time, so even if there is not a successful one for you presently, be patient--it's coming.

If it is anxiety or depression, there are hundreds of meds for these conditions. If one doesn't produce the right results for you, there are so many others the doctors can try.

Bi-polar, panic, and others also have many successful medications.

Did you know that eating disorders and substance abuse are also considered mental illnesses. There are certainly treatments for these.

Check out: http://www.about.com

in the upper right-hand corner, type in mental health. There you can look up your particular problem and read about causes, prevention, and treatments for it.

Good luck to you.

Answer 7

Mental Illness is like any other illness. Sometimes, it can be cured and sometimes it takes a regimen of medications. Either way, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. I take medication to combat depression. I am grateful that I live in a time that there are drugs available to me. I live a healthy, productive life. Unfortunately, there were those in my family that were unable to do the same thing. I realize that if they had lived in a later time, our time, they would have had the meds to help them. Good luck!

Answer 8

I have several friends with one of the most SERIOUS mental illnesses around. They all cope. One of them took away to admit he had the problem; he takes his medication to "sleep better" rather than to stop having delusions.

Being honest, some mental illnesses are VERY tough to deal with. One of the problems is the "confediciality" designed to "protect" the person but sometimes it simply prevents those that care from knowing and evaluation the effectiveness of treatment.

In any case, MENTAL ILLNESS IS NOT THE END OF IT ALL. I mean, certainly, it is not something anybody would WANT but LIFE is WhAT you make of it. You get the right advice and admit your limitations, you can still enjoy life.

Hang in there.

Answer 9

Honey, we ALL have experience with mental illness... us or a family member or somebody close to us.

I don't believe that it is a life sentence-- unless you buy into the "medical model" and get hooked on a variety of pharmaceuticals. One of the most effective methods I have come across to deal with anxiety and other negative affects is Emotional Freedom Technique.
I recommend that you take a look at it as an alternative to the gloomy prognosis you've been given. You can download the free "Getting Started" package at http://tinyurl.com/yh5zhu

All the best!

Answer 10

Agree