“Imagine having poison ivy all over you body, for twenty years and constantly being told not to scratch. You can resist for a while, but eventually you give in” (Marlene Targ Brill 18). Tourette syndrome can be compared to poison ivy in some aspects. Individuals with Tourette syndrome have been suffering with tics and tantrums for hundreds of years, but today there are treatments that can help control the symptoms of Tourettes, allowing sufferers to live a normal life. The history of Tourette syndrome is very interesting. Hundreds of years ago those with Tourettes were thought of very differently all around the world. In some countries they were worshiped and in some countries they were considered possessed. Also, in other countries they were considered mysterious and unusual. “In South Africa there are several diseases regarded as sacred—the diseases of the god’s… Tourettes is one of the sacred diseases in Zulu culture where people are so afflicted have been made great leaders socially and spiritually. They have named the disease “Indiki”; the word meaning ‘pulse’ or ‘jerk illness’” (Health Record Center Academic Print). There were many other cultures where people with Tourette syndrome were considered enchanted or worshiped. On the other hand, not all Touretters were honored and worshiped like others. Some people with Tourette syndrome were thought of as possessed and were tortured because of their tics and tantrums. “Sometimes they underwent extreme “treatments” such as flogging, lobotomies, or even being burned at stake” (Tracy Haerle 20). The pain of these individuals with Tourette syndrome is unimaginable to understand since no one realized they could not control their actions. “The bizarre ... ... middle of paper ... ... with Tourette’s to have educational strategies for easier learning. It is vital that he or she is constantly absorbed in an activity; therefore, they are focused and do not have tics as frequently. Finding hobbies or talents for sufferers is also a key aspect for improving an educational strategy. This helps them build his or her self-esteem. When a child with Tourette syndrome is praised for his or her talent this boosts their confidence even more. Tourette syndrome is not fully understood; therefore, there is no cure yet. The history was interesting in all cultures. The causes are still unknown and considered a mystery to us, but every day the true causes become more and more apparent. The symptoms are sporadic and at times uncontrollable. There are such a variety of treatments out there, that soon there will be a cure to this poison ivy like disease.
But if you were different, suffering from a mental disability, you would have been given the job title of Court Jester or Village Idiot. Society mocked intellectually disabled individuals because they were different from the norm, but that is not the worst of it. Carter and VanAndel (2011) leading professionals in the field of Therapeutic Recreation explain the appalling treatment of the mentally disabled during the Middle Ages. These individuals were locked away in dank, dark cells within the walls of the dungeon, hidden from society, (p. 29) all the while tethered to the wall like a wild animal. Even though the times were primitive, little regard or medical attention was awarded to the mentally disabled. French Physician, Philippe Pinel (1745-1826) did not like the treatment the mentally ill received so he decided to advocate on their behalf. He felt all individuals had the right to live as productive members of society. Carter and VanAndel highlight how Pinel ventured out to change the living conditions for the intellectually disabled. (p. 30) Unfortunately, during the Victorian Era society felt demon possession caused the mental illness. In some instances, individuals were killed in the process of exorcism. Many years later intellectually disabled individuals were housed in prisons with murderers and thieves. They were treated like common criminals just because they were different. In later years, they were segregated from society and institutionalized. (Carter & VanAndel, 2011, p. 31) Throughout the years, the treatment of the mentally disabled individuals changed. Today, in some areas the mentally disabled are still segregated; however, the stigma is still present. They attend schools that are specifically designed to support their needs and teachers trained to instruct individuals with disabilities. The living conditions have also
The treatments at the hospitals that specialized in curing the insane were often done for the benefit of the staff, not the pat...
In the 1800’s people with mental illnesses were frowned upon and weren't treated like human beings. Mental illnesses were claimed to be “demonic possessions” people with mental illnesses were thrown into jail cells, chained to their beds,used for entertainment and even killed. Some were even slaves, they were starved and forced to work in cold or extremely hot weather with chains on their feet.
One out of every 360 children have Tourettes. Tourette’s is a neurological disorder, which means that it takes place in the nervous system. It affects males three to four times more than females. There’s no exact known reason as to why. Symptoms begin at ages three to nine, and typically, the first sign is excessive blinking. This
Davison et al. (2014) define a mental disorder as “a behavioural or psychological syndrome associated with current distress and/or disability” (p. G8). While mental disorders have behavioural and cognitive origins, physical disorders have physiological or neurological origins. Although these disorders can be separately defined, they often appear together. Tourette’s is a neurological disorder also appearing in the DSM-5 and creating many specific challenges. Davison et al. (2014) acknowledge that “people with psychological disorders often face negative stereotyping and stigmatization” (p. 18). Similarly, Ray faced stigmatization as a result of his Tourette’s. Sacks (1981) states, “[Ray] had been subject to these [tics] since the age of four and severely stigmatised by the attention they aroused.” Additionally, like many individuals with mental disorders, Ray was challenged by unpredictable mood changes. For example, Ray experienced times of wild mannerisms and energies, but could also, with a “kinetic melody”, be tension-free and tic-free (Sacks, 1981). Finally, individuals with mental disorders often struggle to find both useful and enjoyable treatment options. Likewise, Ray’s first treatment attempt was unsuccessful and he was forced to explore alternatives. Although individuals with mental illnesses may face challenges, these challenges can
Stekel, Wilhelm, and Louise Brink. Sadism and Masochism: The Psychology of Hatred and Cruelty. 2 vols. New York: Liveright, 1953. Questia School. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.
described in an essay called “Shaking Palsy” published in 1817 by a London Physician named
Moral treatment is a treatment that uses “psychological methods” to treat mental diseases (Packet Two, 26). In general, moral treatment was a relatively benevolent and humane approach to treat mental disorders. Before the introduction of moral treatment, insane people were regarded by the general public as wild animals whose brains were physically impaired and usually incurable (Packet One, 11). Therefore, regardless of patients’ specific symptoms, physicians generally labeled patients as lunatics and treated them with the same method (Packet One, 11). Because of the perceived impossibility of curing mental illness, physicians put far greater emphasis on restraining patients’ potential danger behaviors than striving to bring them back to sanity. Cruel methods such as bloodletting were widely used, but their effectiveness was really poor. Moral treatment was a response to this ineffective and brutal traditional treatment. The advocates of moral treatment insisted that mental diseases were curable. By providing a friendly environment that contributed to reviving, moral treatment could help patients to...
Robert B. Edgerton is an anthropologist with interests in psychological and medical anthropology. His early work was focused on individual adaptation to differing ecological conditions on the one hand and mental retardation on the other. His interests in mental retardation led to books such as The Cloak of Competence, which will be analyzed in this paper and Lives in Process. His ecological interests produced The Individual in Cultural Adaptation, followed by Rules, Exceptions and Social Order. He then turned his attention to studies of deviant behavior (Alone Together) and mental illness (Changing Perspectives in Mental Illness with S. Plog).
The nature of the disorder makes it difficult to treat, since patients are convinced that they suffer from a real and serious medical problem. Indeed, the mere su...
The mentally ill were treated very inhumanly in the early insane asylums. Some of the treatment the patients had to undergo was extremely painful and evil. The asylums were really prisons and not centers for treatment. The inmates were chained and the rooms were dark and filthy dungeons. The patients were treated like animals, not humans (Gray).
"History Autism - Important Facts Involving the History of Autism." Articlesbase. ArticlesBase.com, 2011. Web. 22 Mar 2011. .
After finishing this book I realized that this is somewhat true. This is a disease that has been kept a secret, and those that suffer from it keep it a hidden. It is embarrassing and those that suffer from this wish not to be identified. It has become a ritual to the person; they feel if they admit that they suffer from this that they will be labeled as “crazy'; when if fact they are not. One of our family members may have it or friends, we never know, and that’s the amazing thing because we might be able to help them but they are not willing to be open about it.
For many decades the mentally ill or insane have been hated, shunned, and discriminated against by the world. They have been thrown into cruel facilities, said to help cure their mental illnesses, where they were tortured, treated unfairly, and given belittling names such as retards, insane, demons, and psychos. However, reformers such as Dorothea Dix thought differently of these people and sought to help them instead. She saw the inhumanity in these facilities known as insane asylums or mental institutions, and showed the world the evil that wandered inside these asylums. Although movements have been made to improve conditions in insane asylums, and were said to help and treat the mentally ill, these brutally abusive places were full of disease and disorder, and were more like concentration camps similar to those in Europe during WWII than hospitals.