Why does society tend to be apathetic towards the mentaly dissabled?

Question

I have confided in a few friends over the years that I suffer from bi-polar disorder.... and have lost those friends or they slowly retreat from my life.
Do people with obvious physical disabilities suffer this same societal fear, inconsideration and apathy ?

If so, I apologize as a non physically disabled person because I am empathetic to the hurt and isolation society causes us to suffer.

Answer 1

It's because society views the mentally disabled as weak-willed and lazy, rather than having a medically accepted disorder. When it comes to mental illness, society still has a long way to go. They say, "Oh, just set your mind to it and you won't be mentally ill anymore." BS. There's more to it than that.

My father has bipolar, so I know what you're going through. He has a hard time holding on to friends, too, and even lots of members of our family treat him bad. No one wants to take the time to find out what bipolar really entails. If they did, they wouldn't be so scared or disdainful of him. He says he'd rather be physically disabled because then people wouldn't treat him like complete garbage. No one would walk up a person in a wheelchair and say, "Get your lazy butt up out of that chair and walk. You just need to to exercise more willpower!" Seriously, if someone said that to a person in a wheelchair, the screaming from society as a whole would go on for a month. (And with good cause!) But if a person does the same general thing to the mentally ill, society agrees with them.

Answer 2

Yes--people with visible disabilities do suffer social ostracism and discrimination. In some ways it's not as bad--people have less preconnceptions about how we might behave--there's a lot of mythology about "crazy people" that you have to contend with that we don't.

In other ways its harder--because you can't escape being stereotyped. A person with a mental disability can usually walk dow n the street or go to a store withoutbeing noticed. That's really hard to do when you're using a wheelchair or a cane! :)

Why society is the way iit is is a complicated issue--there's no simple answer. Here's one part of it: historically, people with mental disabilities were often viewed as "possessed by demons" and other such superstitions. That hasn't entirely gone away--you can still see/hear so-called "pastors" claiming they can "exorcise the demons."

That's one rather dramatic example-but, as I said, its a very complex issue (and a big part of my own research as a historian). But if you want to learn more about disability as a social issue, do a Google (or on Amazon.com) search for "Disability Studies Books" You'll get some really interesting titles on the history, sociology, etc. of people with disabilities.

Answer 3

well where I live, reactions and attitudes to learning disabled people are very harsh mainly because learning disabled people are not generally educated in mainstream education from the age of 3 and therefore there is a barrier which prevents acceptance. my mother fought hard to get me into mainstream education I was said to have a learning disability and the council wanted my mother to put me in a special needs school and she said no way and then she had to fight to get support for me when i was at school I am dyscalculaic and dyspraxic i also suffer from Vertigo and lack of self esteem even though my handwriting is awful, I can construct a sentence in a matter of minutes.
I have a lot of friends who are more disabled than me and i am fiercely protective of them. yes, sometimes physically disabled people suffer the same inconsiderations and indignities, for instance here in the UK if a disabled person is getting on a bus some of our buses to not have disabled access and the drivers are jerks most of the time. the attitudes of other passengers on the bus is another hurdle
the main problem that disabled people face is that half the time people who do not know them see only the disability and not the PERSON!

Answer 4

I have depression, PTSD, and Borderline Personality Disorder which resulted from the abuse of an alcoholic and pill addicted Munchosin mother…

Top that off with being physically disabled and being in need of a hip replacement, am fat, and am into chicks and I am the pariah to the world!

When I attempted to go to my family for help all I was ever told was “Think happy thoughts and the depression will go away” and I have faced all sorts of “looks” and horrible comments about being on Wellbutrin XL & Effexor SR.

The B.P.D. and hip condition keeps me from holding a job but I’ve been disabled since I was 10 years old so I don’t qualify for Social Security Disability… I don’t have enough “Points” or whatever…

Cook County just cut most of their funding for medical care for underprivileged people so I can’t get orthopedic help or mental help through the county and the mental help center at the Howard Brown Medical Clinic can’t take any more patients…

Society hates me for being fat…
For being mentally ill…
For being physically disabled…
For being abused…

Society, for some reason unknown to me, just flat out hates me!

I try so hard to do “what everyone else does” but one thing or another turns them against me…

If it were not for my father I would be homeless…

I don’t understand this country…

Answer 5

Yes it's a very distrubing fact today that it is still shunned. It took me years to become open about my depression and yes some stay clear and don't know what to say but I have found the odd person with whom I know I can be my true self. It's sad isn't it. Just because all seems well on the surface some people, not all, think that your alright. You certainly find out who your friends are that is for sure. The gift of empathy is wonderful don't ever change, those who hurt and are hurting are real to themselves and to others. God Bless and take care.

Answer 6

My friends know I take medication, not one of them has ran away from me. Some of them even take it too, or their parents. Lots of people have mental issues and are on medication. Some of them can work jobs and lead a normal life, others can't. I know I can't lead a normal life because of my mental illness. I would feel too uncomfortable in work place setting, and I'm being serious...literally my brain...for no reason...would or might make me feel bad sporadically. So yes I am disabled. And I think our society has intelligent people in it...some other people are less sympathetic to the mentally disabled, like one of my old friends who thought that I should be working full time. See..hes not my friend anymore...thats my choice.

Answer 7

I believe they do...I worked for years with mental and physical disabled adults and still remain in touch with those in my class. They have all become "extended family" of mine. While this does not make me an expert in any way...the time that I worked in this field..I did get to experience the reactions of our society first hand. I have to say that I have never been as furious as at the times where I witnessed people actually backing away as if my "guys" were contaminated or something. I had one idiot who actually crossed himself...that one, I really had to restrain myself from getting physical with ! People are afraid, they don't take the time to educate themselves...their natural tendency is to look the other way and pretend they never seen anything and that way...don't have to understand it or do anything to help either. Good luck hon and remember...those that are uneducated and unwilling to learn more....are the ones that are disabled !

Answer 8

I think it's out of ignorance. Few people seem to know much about mental disorders and they have some very strange ideas about mentally ill people. It's like they don't know (or don't understand) how diverse mental problems can be and how they can range from very mild to severe. A lot of people seem to think that all people who suffer from mental disorders are completely deranged and dangerous. It's sad that people don't know better. I'm sure that if people learned more about mental disorders this wouldn't happen as much and we'd be accepted more in society.

Answer 9

im bi-polar, and a many a diagnoses more........so i know exactly what ur saying......it seems like people w/ physical disabilities are almost "easire to deal w/" (clarified next, no offense to anyone.....)---because u can see the disability.

people when they learn of my many disabilities,....half the time dont know what it is, or what it means, and mostly how to deal w/ it. they think u r about to go "psycho" any minute.....and then ----------- what kind of "craziness is she capable next"?

i think its the same societal fear........but at the same time very different. both groups are different from the NORMs of society where everybody wants to fit in cookie-cutter perfect.....but where we can look perfect......we have the true mystery of whats going on in our minds......maybe warped, maybe accented in some way..........its just not on the surface 24/7.

we appear normal.........most of the time, and when we're not what people expect, they retreat........the unknown, is scary to anyone.........

just remember----keep trying........cuz if u do that, u can never fail.

i hope this helps a little, and know i understand and have wondered the same thing, just didnt have the courage to ask outside of therapy. its a touchy subject---physical and mental disabilities,,,,,,,,,,
anyway------hope this helps, and i commend u for asking:):).

Answer 10

This is a country where most people honestly don't have the scientific knowledge to understand how mental illness works. We can thank the schools for that one.

I've actually never seen such inconsideration in my case. I've had dysthymia for over 13 years, and everyone close to me knew about it because I wanted them to know about it and learn. Everywhere I've worked, they've known about it and have been accomodating if I have to go to the doctor or if I'm having a few "technical diffculties," rare as they are with good treatment.