Why is it that when someone has cancer they can talk as much as they want about it even to strangers but when someone has a mental illness noone wants to talk about it?
2007-08-08 05:08:29 · 10 answers · asked by ♥Me♥ 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
wow..... i never thought about it, i think we're supposed to be "weird" if we have a disorder.... you're very smart.. i think im going to start researching this. you are a genius!
2007-08-08 08:02:36 · answer #1 · answered by Mrs. Jent 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Amen! This is the point I've been making for years.
It's because people don't understand mental or emotional disorders. If they don't experience them themselves, they just don't get why a person can't just "get over it". So you get people who think that people don't need the so-called "happy pills", and instead think that a nice bubble bath would do the trick.
They also don't understand the drugs used to treat mental disorders, imagining they keep you at a constant state of numbness, they keep you from taking responsibilities seriously, they keep you from facing your problems, etc. It's true that tranquilizers were often used a decade or two ago to treat mental disorders, but now, those drugs have begun to go the way of electric shock therapy and sending people who have personality or mental disorders to an institution.
As a Christian, I think the saddest thing is the common Christian response to using medications to help with those conditions. I've had people suggest to me that I'm not a true Christian because if I were, "the joy of the Lord" would be my strength. I should just pray that God would help me feel better and be happy.
These same people, of course, go to doctors in droves to get medical treatment for cancer, asthma, allergies, anemia, heart disease, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, and every other "real" disease.
Keep in mind, until not all that long ago, mental disorders like depression and bipolar really were looked at as though there was something wrong with the person, and people even would send them off into hiding at an asylum and never mention their relative's "condition."
In my opinion, it's important to speak out and educate others, knocking down the taboos associated with these disorders rapidly and mercilessly.
Won't it be nice when people can stop feeling guilty for having a disorder they didn't choose to have?
2007-08-08 12:43:19 · answer #2 · answered by CrazyChick 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, I don't think you really can compare the two. What is it that you want to talk about?
I think that people talk about cancer as a coping mechanism, because kimo is really draining on the body and more people have it than you think. With mental diseases, as a society, people do tend to stray away from disorders.
I think the best thing to do is go to therapy and get prescriptions (if available) for the mental illness. My father is bipolar. Unfortunately he will not get help and I understand that is part of the disease, but if family is there to support you...I believe a person should get therapy/medicine and can be helped.
2007-08-08 12:16:31 · answer #3 · answered by eniles21 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Most people dont want to admit to a mental illness. Physical illnesses are things that usually have visual side effects, therefore the person cant hide from it. But, mental illnesses are things that can be hidden inside a person, usually without much notice from anyone outside.
2007-08-08 12:11:19 · answer #4 · answered by partygurlone 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cancer isnt embarrassing! Cancer is just sad...if you have stuff going on in your brain and you think differently than others it's harder to be understood. You fit in less bc of how you act. If you can't/don't act like your friends or others do then they reject you. Not many want to share their mental disorders because it's painful emotionally and people may not except them. And btw-marcia-people can not control their mental disorders...it takes medicine to do that, just like everything else (ex. allergies, joint pain, arthritis) mental disorders are no different
2007-08-08 12:32:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Up until the end of the 20th century, mental illness was thought of as a personality weakness something to hide and be ashamed of. Change comes slowly now that we know differently.
2007-08-08 12:11:53 · answer #6 · answered by ♥♥The Queen Has Spoken♥♥ 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I guess a lot of ppl think that the mental illness has affected your mind so much that you cant hold a conversation with the person.
2007-08-08 12:11:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
because in our society people with mental disorders are discriminated more that people with cancer. Mental disorders are associated with crime and danger.
2007-08-08 12:11:37 · answer #8 · answered by colegioyr 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
People don't give themselves cancer, but they're responsible for their own mental health.
2007-08-08 12:23:43 · answer #9 · answered by Pinyon 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
because people are ignorant.
2007-08-08 12:11:28 · answer #10 · answered by essentiallysolo 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋