The Pros And Cons Of Mental Disorders

Authoritarianism people believe that the mentally ill are irresponsible and their decisions should be made by others. Although that is far from the case, research shows that people who show stigmatism often. Benevolence people believe that people with mental illnesses are childlike and must be watched and cared for. These three characteristics are the mail prejudicial reactions in society. So how can we reduce stigmatism?

Their life can be drastically different from healthy individuals, however there are many treatments for this disorder. The media is obsessed with making schizophrenics out to be violent people who can’t control any of their actions. Schizophrenia does indeed affect social behavior and other cognitive abilities by simply making the individuals highly paranoid, often leading to trouble in holding conversations or completing everyday tasks. (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.). Different cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, and learning are drastically impaired in schizophrenics.

If you have a bipolar disorder you are insane and if you suffer of a depression you are merely overreacting. The absence of understanding in the U.S regarding mental disorder leads to outrageous views of the mentally sick, as the few ones mentioned above. The stigma around mental disorder is greatly associated with mental illness perceived in negative light which are toxic and detrimental. It is important to know how these approaches came to existence and why those views have been bolstering. The stigma against mental disorders traces back to the Anglo-American customs before the 1700s (Tomes and Gamwell) and has been etched in the society.

Stigma is a barrier for treatment and is harmful to society, as well as being a sign of a toxic community. The biggest obstacle in the goal to eradicate mental health stigma is that many people aren’t aware of what a mental disorders are, and how commonly they occur. Many people associate people with mental illness (also called psychological disorders) as “crazy” or “insane”. However, these disorders can be as simple as attention and hyperactivity problems (ADHD), stress disorders, and depression. There are of course more serious issues like bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, but even those can be handled with proper methods of medication and therapeutic assistance.

“The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know anything about” (Hourani 142). A mental disorder is an illness that is experienced by an undeniably large amount of people, and despite this it is still met with discrimination. People perceive mental illness to be less severe and important than physical illness, but by bringing attention to the stigma, people will be aware of the disease. However, what is most surprising is the fact that people’s negative outlook is based on a misconception and misunderstanding about mental disorders as opposed to its reality. This is a pertinent concern in our society because of the way this prejudice affects the mentally ill. Not only are they faced with feelings of insecurity about who they are, but they also are subject to be treated as less than equals, and are seen as outcasts.

Schizophrenic people belong in jail. Schizophrenia is contagious. People with schizophrenia are more likely to be violent towards others than healthy people. These are all ideas people hold about the disease and none of them define it. Schizophrenia is an illness that damages the way your brain functions and your cognitive abilities.

Public stigma, encompassing multiple stigmatizing attitudes towards those with mental illness, is often presented in three forms throughout the media, “people with mental illness are homicidal maniacs who need to be feared; they have childlike perceptions of the world that should be marveled; or they are responsible for their illness because they have weak character” (Corrigan and Watson 17). Noticeably, none of these attitudes are beneficial for persons with serious mental illness. These attitudes alter the way people with mental illness are treated by the public—which will be explored further on—and they also alter the way people with mental illness see

Mental health illness is often created and diagnosed from the subjective judgment of mental health professionals. Often times, diagnosis consists of undesirable traits perceived by the dominant society as a problem. Society creates beliefs and dictates social norms in order to instilling social order. Moreover, marginalized groups that are often disenfranchised are often diagnosed and labeled with mental illnesses, because of the inability to become resilient and successful from impoverished conditions. Delgado and Stefancic (2001) describe Intersectionality as multiple identities that oppress individuals that feature undesirable traits depicted in society.

Sarah and Angela The Many Misconceptions and Misunderstandings of Schizophrenia Misunderstood with the assistance of popular stigmas and stereotypes, schizophrenia and its severity is often degraded and overlooked by the public. Wrongly feared and shunned, individuals with schizophrenia have too commonly been judged throughout human history and even today. Many aspects of the disease are failed to be truly understood and represented, from the effects of the disease to the availability of treatment. Favored by the media, incorrect and misleading portrayals of schizophrenics frequently appear in popular culture and entertainment, influencing people’s perceptions of the mental illness. Not at all rare and incredibly destructive, schizophrenia as mental illness lacks a very apparent public empathy and knowledge, a clear disadvantage and deterrent for victims of the condition.

The Label that comes with being mentally ill often leads to depression. Mental illness is largely misunderstood in the United States and can be treated; the following paragraphs reveal treatment, as well as causes and effects of stigmas on society, poverty, Insurance, the educational system, and the media. In society there are Universal definitions of what it means to be mentally healthy. Mental illness is defined as "all mental disorders, which are characterized by sustained patterns of abnormal thinking, emotions, or behaviors that are accompanied by significant distress and/or impairment in daily functioning.” The most diagnosed illnesses are bipolar, impulse control, and anxiety. The ridicule and embarrassment that is attached to the label strains people from seeking the treatment they need to conquer the problem.