In all my time at two different schools I don't remember anyone having a recognisable mental illness, except maybe the boy who committed suicide. Obviously there were boys with personality quirks but nothing more serious than that. So why are mental disorders now so widespread?
Some health professionals believe the epidemic of mental illness isn't what it seems. People may be more willing to accept they have a mental disorder. Therapists might be more likely to diagnose one. What was once seen as simply odd behaviour may now be seen as a mental disorder. And there are new mental disorders to apply to people - like ADHD.
So the jury's definitely out on the explosion of mental illness, and whether it's a real increase or not.
Certainly severe mental illness is just that and can't be explained away. An old school friend of Jenny's was seriously schizophrenic and killed herself at the second attempt. She was clearly very disturbed, had crazy fantasies and constantly alienated other people.
Then again mental illness may simply be an understandable reaction to someone's rotten life situation. If I was being badly treated at work, or by my spouse, or by my family, and I was living in a crumbling, mould-infested flat, and I was heavily in debt, I think some sort of mental disorder would be almost inevitable.
I would certainly question the reality of it. I don't know if you read Tumblr much, but the bloggers there definitely skew younger than on Blogspot or WordPress, and it sometimes seems like almost everyone claims to be "neurodivergent" (the current politically-correct term for having a mental disorder) in some usually-very-vague sense. There's a kind of cachet to it -- one could even say it's fashionable. I suspect that even in society more broadly, a lot of what in a less self-dramatizing era would be recognized as ordinary personality quirks are indeed now being interpreted as mental illnesses, by histrionic individuals if not by doctors. The trend even has some practical value, since those who claim neurodivergence can use it as an excuse for being unable (or unwilling to make the effort) to handle the ordinary challenges of life. Everyone's a victim and no one is responsible for anything.
ReplyDeleteInfidel: I guess that for all the people who seek a diagnosis for self-promoting reasons (and there are plenty of them) there are many others who are genuinely mentally ill and suffering acutely. Unfortunately the latter are struggling to get psychiatric help from an overwhelmed NHS.
DeleteI sincerely believe that those with real mental disorders are not being diagnosed because of their suspicions of the medical community and big pharma. However, like Infidel, I also think that it’s become popular to say one has autism, adhd, etc. as a way to make themselves feel ‘special.’ It’s frustrating to me, who has family members diagnosed many years ago before it became a ‘thing.’ These can be life debilitating illnesses.
ReplyDeleteBijoux: It's a shame if people are too suspicious of the medical community to get much-needed help - especially if as you suggest their illness is life-debilitating.
DeleteMy granddaughter is on the spectrum, having something called Nonverbal Learning Disorder, and it is very real. She is bright, articulate, and accomplished. However, she struggles to understand social cues, is prone to "episodes and meltdowns" and has never been able to ride a bike, play sports, etc (the "Nonverbal" aspect of this learning disorder). This does NOT make her feel special. She hates it. Desperately. If someone says they are struggling, I think we should be kind enough to believe it.
ReplyDeleteColette: I've never heard of Nonverbal Learning Disorder but clearly, as you explain, it seriously affects your everyday life. It's not surprising that she hates being so different from other people.
DeleteDon't forget drapetomania (uncontrolled desire to run away from slavery), which was a diagnosis used in the southern US.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of that either. Quite extraordinary that the desire to escape slavery was seen as a psychological disorder.
DeleteMy family entered group therapy the year it became permissible in Illinois to treat more than one person at a time--1957.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Linda: And what was the result of the group therapy? Was it helpful?
DeleteNo. They assured us we could say anything there and there would be no repulsions at home but we kids did not believe them.
DeleteLinda
Linda: If I'd been promised that, I don't think I'd believe it either.
DeleteI was diagnosed with Schizotypal Personality Disorder and Schizoaffective Disorder more than 30 years ago. I have all the symptoms of schizophrenia without the psychosis (most days). Meaning I hear voices and have hallucinations but (most days) I know they aren't real and can differentiate real from not real. I've been taking antipsychotic's for a long time. I've talked about my different mental illnesses on my blog before because I think the stigma for people who really do have mental illness and need help is real and a lot of people don't get help because of that stigma.
ReplyDeleteMary: Wow, I didn't know about your personal record of mental illness. I'm glad you're on top of it. And yes, I'm sure there's still a lot of stigma around mental disorder, despite people being a bit more open about it.
DeleteI wonder what pollution and leaded gasoline has contributed.
ReplyDeleteJoanne: Me too. And air pollution generally.
DeleteNick, I will say nothing about mental illness or health. The humain brain is still a mystery and to judge what is illness or what health is just to difficult to explore for a non specialist and how evaluate what people feel or how they react.
ReplyDeleteHannah
Hannah: The brain is certainly a mystery. Why mental illness is increasing so fast is also a mystery. I'm sure some people's awful life situation has a lot to do with it.
DeleteInteresting subject, Nick. I have had family members sectioned, so I will keep myself to myself on this one.
ReplyDeleteSx
Ms Scarlet: Goodness, that's a startling revelation. I won't ask any questions.
DeleteThere was a time and possibly still in many places (and homes) when a a person showing any form of mental illness was shunned or hidden away. Thankfully, there is now more treatment available.
ReplyDelete