Is mental illness inborn or created through society?

Answer 1

both

Answer 2

From my own personal experience, research, what psychiatrists & therapists have told me, most mental illness is either inherited and/or created from childhood trauma. (Trauma of any kind, at any age, can create some syndromes like post traumatic stress disorder or anxiety but when you are a child & your brain is still developing, trauma during that time, such as abuse, etc. literally changes your brain chemistry.)

As far as society, the only "mental illness" I can think of that can be strongly influenced by society is anorexia...however, there is almost already a tendency for it before it develops (like any other addiction or "coping mechanism").

Answer 3

The potential or predisposition for many kinds of mental illness is inherited. Sometimes the coping skills an individual develops throughout their childhood and teen years may make the difference between becoming ill or not.

Answer 4

My mental health problems are the direct result of trauma inflicted on me through no choice of my own.

Some people's bodies may not work quite right from the beginning, and others may develop later in life. Not all reasons are environmental.

Answer 5

schitzophrenics have holes in their heads. it shows up on brain scans. they hallucinate too. born that way.

depressed poeple are MOSTLY society tho i think the worst cases are born that way. It's been proven that healthy eating, good sleep, social network, and MOST IMPORTANTLY cardio excercise are needed for anti-depression. Cardio alone is as effective as drugs! This is mostly society.

other disorders might be somwhere in the between.

and what about people "born" a certain way because they don't have enough nutrients? like people born without a brain because their mom didn't eat enough B vitamins? is that "born that way" or enviroment?

Answer 6

I think that you can be born with a tendency towards mental illness, which may or may not develop into the illness, depending on environmental factors.

Answer 7

There are genetic reasons for most psychiatric illnesses and some of them are exacerbated by societal pressures. So I would have to say that both reasons cause psychiatric illnesses.
Because of both of these issues addressing psychiatric illnesses has to be a two prong approach.

Answer 8

Both. It depends on the person and their genes and their life situation.