why are mental issues more rampant now than 50 to 100 yrs ago or did they simply not talk about such things th

Answer 1

Back then, it was either you were sane or insane. And if you were insane you were locked up. Other than that, you tried to act normal.

Answer 2

A number of reasons. Firstly, Mental health is an ever changing area of health. What are mental health problems and disorders today may not have been considered such back then. A famous example is Howard Hughes. He had obessive complusive disorder but that was unknown in those days and he was just thought of as 'eccentric' or 'weird.' There is also some truth to your ending line as well, a lot of mental problems just were not talked about either. There has also been debate today as to whether all the numerous mental disorders are actually disorders. For instance 'Social Anxiety Disorder' is now whispered to people who are shy and prefer to avoid large groups of people. As for why mental issues are more rampant now then 50 to 100 years ago, the best answer I can give is the level of stress has gradually risen and since mental health issues are more in the open now and are treated by much more advanced methods then the sanitarium and elctro-shock therapy, the number has increased. Sadly though, we have no idea of how many people actually suffered some sort of mental issue but went untreated and hence unreported in comparison figures.

Answer 3

There are several reasons why there are more mental issues now days. First, life was a little slower paced in the old days, and people didn't have a need or desire to burn the candle 24/7. When you went home after work, you were home. No phones, no cell phones, no faxes, no pagers, no computers and no internet. You didn't tend to get into credit or money stress related issues because there was very little credit given to ordinary folks, and most folks lived tight and in their budget. Families were not as wide spread apart, so you had a built in support network when things got to you. As far as major mental illness, like schizophenia, the rates are likely very similar- but people didn't talk much about it because they really didn't understand it. There was a serious stigma attached to mental illness, and people would avoid marrying into a family that had those type tendencys if they knew. I don't think there is any more of the depression or such than there ever was- it's just in vogue now to be bipolar or whatever and people are more open about it. The major difference is that now days we lack the support systems they had, and we are more open about it all. I also think that today we look for some mental health excuse to cover up our unwillingness to change our behaviors or our misbehaviors. It's a lot more acceptable to be substance dependant than it is to say somebody is just a plain old lush. We have "issues" now, and we seek counseling for them. So when some movie star says something less than admirable, rather than just say he/she spoke before the brain engaged, the publicity manager announces they have "issues" that they have now sought therapy for. I don't think we have more mental issues in truth, I think we just use the term more often because it's become more acceptable than the truth.

Answer 4

The answer is really simple. People were under diagnosed, mis diagnosed or not diagnosed at all. Everyone was locked up in mental institutions. Back during that time they put you in a mental ward, gave you ECT, and did lobotomies daily because they thought that's what you were suppose to do. They didn't do psych evals on patients to see what their problems were they just through them in a locked padded room. As the years go on and we advance medically we learn more about the body and the brain and we have also developed medications that weren't available back then.

I also think it has to do with the perservatives in food, the drugs and alcohol taken while women are still pregnant, there are many reasons why there are more now than before. Family structures in society have broke down which causes kids to have to raise themselves.

This stress alone can cause depression. There are more pregnant women now that a hundred years ago and that probably has a significant impact due to post partum depression and other health concerns. And we have doctors who have branched off in to specialized fields where they are able to catch problems a lot sooner.

Answer 5

Mental illness is more rampant today than ever before. Drugs are more rampant today than ever before and today there is a "pill" for everything. Each time something tragic happens in the schools and elsewhere we have counselors stepping in to guide our youth through the grief process. Today our children are the most insecure of any generation before them, yet parents are encouraged to explain the tragedies of life rather than shield them from certain aspects. Drugs and alcohol precipitate feelings of depression and paranoia which in turn deepens the depression and paranoia. The media continually drums it into our heads that we cannot do it alone, that we need support groups for everything. Not only have people become physically and genetically weaker through environmental factors (Aids, Allergies, Asthma, etc.) but mentally weaker as well.
Don't get me wrong, support groups can be very useful and medication for mental disorders can be a life saver, but as usual society goes overboard. We are led to believe that no one person can handle or cope with stress without a pill or support group today....



Contrary to what some are saying here, not all mental institutions were, "Snake PIts." People were being diagnosed as far back as 60 yrs ago, possibly earlier. Individuals if they could afford it, would stay at a "private" hospital rather than an institution for shorter terms, not necessarily for years. Not all were locked away in padded rooms, even if they were diagnosed as schizophrenic.

Answer 6

Your latter speculation is correct. Today's society, lifestyle and yes--mental health issues weren't just born from recent changes in social mores; they were here all along.

It's just back in the day, 50 to 100 years back, society not only kept quiet of such things in society, but they cast a blind eye to them as well. And what was observed was gossiped about in very tight social circles, something a thing of the past today.

On the mental health issue, the medical and psychiatric practices back in the day didn't really know what to make of some of today's commonly diagnosed and effectively treated illnesses and conditions. Retrospectively, society back then lived in the dark ages by today's living standards.

Answer 7

Some one wrote that they used to think about values, like honor, integrity, friendship, community and the like. Those things can get you in trouble too, but they're a tad more positive and encouraging. Heart, and love, being a human being, they thought about those things, had time and we're swinging back, getting satisfied and looking to be a blessing instead of get one when your already glutonized. LOL There's cycles in history. Some stuff they knew we will still be investigating a billion years for now and yet there's nothing new under the sun in a way, it's just nice to get back to it again and see it from a different angle likes it's all brand new.
Hey, everything is intuition now. I was looking on this website on I Ching and they go in great detail in her Free lessons about how to question the I Ching ,I guess, but those questions and attitudes in questioning are great for questioning yourself/subconscious or whatever and for asking God in prayer. Hmm. No end of good stuff on the net.

Answer 8

Huge combination of societal issues ranging from lack of a wholesome family unit, spirituality (which also provides structure and morals), higher divorce rates, plus I think sometimes mental issues are slightly exaggerated because pills/"medications" are big marketing game for drug companies and psycho analylists to keep "patients" coming back. Even these two things can definately help one get better, there are plenty of times folks can be too reliant on them even after they are really healed. In general, due to our free will, it's a good idea to just use more common sense like they did in the olden golden days

Answer 9

Well i think you hit it on the nose there. Plus 50 years ago, the kind of treatment they had, well lets just say no one would want to go and seek out help if they knew just what they would be in for. Today they still know very little about the human mind, so just think of what they thought of some one with ocd, or panic attacks back then, they would proably just of locked you up, or you would of been having brain surgey, or shock treatment, or just a genien pig for them to try to figure out how the brain worked and what the heck was wrong with yours. So yes they talk about it more freely now adays, cause you are not as likely to get locked up on a ward with no clothing, and very little food, and a lot of experimenting on you, and shock treatment, so i would say that they just did not talk about it that much back then, cause they were afraid to find out what might happen to them if they did.

Answer 10

On one hand, the advances in psychology and medicine makes it easier to accurately diagnose problems.

On the other hand, the prescription drug industry gives incentives to doctors and shrinks to over-diagnose certain problems, and their massive advertising campaigns have instilled society with the "pill for every ill" mentality. In the old days, people would just deal with minor problems. Nowadays if you're unhappy because your boss yelled at you, you can go get a prescription for the latest feel-good medication.

Answer 11

I think both. It was a curse for a person to have a mental illness years ago. Today it is treated like any other illness and is socially accepted.
It does seem like doctors have found many more mental illnesses now.