Are people capable of HONESTLY admitting to themselves that they MAY have a mental illness?

Question

I'm not talking about people making some random statement to themselves about how they 'must be crazy to think that...." or some other innocent joke they may tell themselves.
I'm talking about 'everyday' people quietly wondering to themselves if they have a problem. Surely mental illness has to be more prevelant than what is currently 'seen'. How can someone fess up if they might only have a mild or controllable illness? Do you wonder or are convinced that there's something wrong with you but don't seek advice or help becasue you have figured out a way to live with it?

Answer 1

I think everyone has issues. I truly think if everyone sat down at took a deep look at themselves they would find their unique pathology. Personally, I feel that people are too afraid to look just past their noses, forget looking slightly inward. People rather point and blame and not take responsibility for their actions. Which, ironically can be classified as a mental disorder! Excuse my rant

Answer 2

You know... I think that most, not all but most people when not pushed into a corner will, can and do realize that they might have mental issues, some who actually seek help on their own. Then there are the people that come to realize with the help of other people mainly family or at least spark a thought. No one likes to be told or admit that they are sick or mentally ill on one hand but on the other....most anyone that has any self respect wants to self improve and that's what this is all about, self improvement so that individual feels better about themselves. It's been my experience that no one wants to be out-casted from society and the thought of being mentally ill usually comes when the same thing keeps happening to someone with no rime or reason. Being insane is different than being mentally ill. The true definition of being insane is.... doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Food for thought? Good Luck

Answer 3

It probably depends on the severity of the illness. Some people are so ill that they probably don't even know that there is something wrong. A lot of people do admit that they have a mental illness. Once societies view on mental illness changes, people will be more likely to seek help for a suspected problem.

Answer 4

Could you not just go to the doctor and not tell your mum or tell your mum it's about something else? If you think it's something you should go to your doctor. They can refer you to someone who can make a proper diagnosis. Maybe you could find some information for your mum to read to try to help her understand why you think there's something wrong. People who say they are feeling suicidal are not doing it for attention. Well they are, but not that kind of attention. Nobody ever wants to commit suicide. It goes against all of lifes basic instincts. They just don't feel like they have any other way out of the way they feel, which isn't living, but they don't want to die, so they tell someone in the hopes that they can get the help they need. If you feel suicidal you need to see a doctor. Try getting some exercise, eat healthily, lay off the sweets, fizzy drinks and sugar, and please try to get enough sleep until you find a way to get that doctors appointment. Medication can make things better and they don't, to quote someone 'drug you up'. If it doesn't, there are other benefits, for example I think it makes you more perceptive (I think that's the right word) to therapy. Having either schizophrenia or manic depression is not a death sentence, nor will it mean you will spend time in a mental institution. But chances are you will be put on some form of medication and referred to a pyschiatrist and then a pyschologist for a diagnosis and the proper treatment.

Answer 5

People have hypochodriasis all the time, probably the widest mental illness. They read the information on the internet, in magazines, there's tons out there. The pharmaceutical industry is probably the wealthiest out there, feeding off people insecurities, with the pop-a-pill, fix-the-problem, mentality of modern America.

The answer is that too many people are thinking they MAY have a problem, the ones who don't, may be the ones who actually HAVE the problems. But, what can ya do about it?

Answer 6

It does not matter who the person is
as they see them self, and they see a world around them, the person will use the self as a marker of what is NORMAL. Abnormal people are those who vary from that person's norm.

Look at it this way. Say, you have a flag on a flagpole. Every time most people look up they see the flag in varying positions. Now, let's say every time YOU look up to the flag you only see it fluttering out full and straight in the wind.
So, you consider NORMAL to be straight and full out. Yet the majority of people around you picture the flag to be in some other position, somewhere in between the extremes of hanging limply and flying straight out. You have believed yourself to be NORMAL, therefore, all other people's views are ABNORMAL.

This is much how we see ourselves when it comes to how we think, what our perceptions and opinions and behaviors are. Our mental health is more accurately viewed from the outside looking in, mirrored by the understanding of the objectivity of one who has considered the Norm of many people's perceptions, rather than just from a single viewpoint of self.

Sometime it can take considerable convincing
for a person to recognize that in the midst of their problems with other people, that it really isn't EVERYBODY ELSE with the problem, Rather it really is "ME" This can be a shocking revelation, and one resisted for a very long time.

Answer 7

We live in a world where medicine is a huge money maker for drug companies. They constantly churn out commercials like,

"If you're mildly depressed - you MAY have a problem."

Or...

"Ask your doctor if your pee is slightly less yellow than before."

There are all of these commercials, feeding you and making you think that you have a problem. And, I can see WHY people think they have a illness.

Or maybe I have an illness, and yes, I HAVE learned to live with it. I just know that I'm not willing to pump money into a already corrupt drug market to cure something that I can easily deal with.

Answer 8

Denial is the biggest river to cross in life

yet i only believe it is mental ilness if your disfunctional

you may have a cold but if u can function youre not ill till you cant get out of bed

by denial of mental challenge many will end up in bed ill.

there are true solutions to deal with the problem-for depression its to deal with grieving if its involved and work ones way to hope -joyful anticipation

if it is extended depression one needs to learn to help others, even in the midst of their own problems, and often medication is needed to connect their connectors back so they will be able to deal with the issue/s.
anxiety is conquerable by learning to think a new way
for many pills will only mask the problem

and its time for help from above -read Romans 1 to be thankfull and share the gospel and worship the creator instead of the created-this helped me alot=

the ultimate answer is still the same, its about the one that still loves us unconditionally=


and look up for help from above=In Jesus amazing grace John 3 repented and asked Jesus in my heart to forgive sins and be my friend, amen"
Revelation 3:19&20 as he asks-for the more abundant life=John 10

best wishes and prayer for you my friend

why live with a problem when there is a solution-even if you will not be 100% perfect-in the Lord you are perfect in his unconditional love.

yet denial will keep one from addmitting they have a mental challenge.

Answer 9

Well when it comes to people with Bipolar disorder, they are not willing to admit they have a problem. My brother's girlfriend has it, and I suspect 2 of our friends have it too. My brother's girlfriend is OK when she's on the meds, but really crazy and always ending up in jail when she's not. The others I know are crazy but manage to stay out of jail.

I can't stand to be around them, they constantly complain that the world is full of jerks. They are always getting evicted from their apt. or getting fired from their jobs. But guess what??!! There is always someone else to blame, they are never at fault.

Answer 10

I don't think so

Most people with mental illness can not admit it or see the problems

Some minor illnesses ( "conditions" ) such as compulsive disorders are the exception but the person with that "condition" usually has little control over it