Comments on: 10 (unfortunate) Myths about Mental Illness http://marklicitra.com/10-unfortunate-myths-about-mental-illness/11/ Discussions of Mental Health and Christianity Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:50:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: rickc http://marklicitra.com/10-unfortunate-myths-about-mental-illness/11/comment-page-1/#comment-126 rickc Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:15:29 +0000 http://marklicitra.com/?p=10#comment-126 I am an associatedcontent writer. I plan to write a post on the topic of mental illness since I suffer from depression and am struggling to find gainful employment. I wasn't always this way...I used to be a computer programmer analyst before downsizing and a bad job market rendered me almsot unemployable. I am currently trying to obtain ssdi and ssi. Please check out my article on job growth in the United States and how the new century compares to the prior century: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1300166/modern_society_threatens_the_american.html I am an associatedcontent writer. I plan to write a post on the topic of mental illness since I suffer from depression and am struggling to find gainful employment. I wasn’t always this way…I used to be a computer programmer analyst before downsizing and a bad job market rendered me almsot unemployable. I am currently trying to obtain ssdi and ssi. Please check out my article on job growth in the United States and how the new century compares to the prior century:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1300166/modern_society_threatens_the_american.html

]]> By: mark http://marklicitra.com/10-unfortunate-myths-about-mental-illness/11/comment-page-1/#comment-17 mark Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:06:16 +0000 http://marklicitra.com/?p=10#comment-17 great points kevin. i do plan on elaborating on #7 much in the way that you just did. I am so glad to see people are eager to talk about these myths! Anyway, you are very correct in your commentary and pretty much wrote my next post for me (thanks man). In fact one of the assumptions that I am going after with this is that it is one or the other. We need to seek a more synthesized view. I will say however that I would hope professionals exercise extreme caution when making accusations as far too many families have been abused by faulty, or at the least misguided, psychological beliefs. I fully support a biopsychosocial-spiritual perspective which I will be presenting within the first few posts. great points kevin. i do plan on elaborating on #7 much in the way that you just did. I am so glad to see people are eager to talk about these myths! Anyway, you are very correct in your commentary and pretty much wrote my next post for me (thanks man). In fact one of the assumptions that I am going after with this is that it is one or the other. We need to seek a more synthesized view. I will say however that I would hope professionals exercise extreme caution when making accusations as far too many families have been abused by faulty, or at the least misguided, psychological beliefs. I fully support a biopsychosocial-spiritual perspective which I will be presenting within the first few posts.

]]> By: Kevin http://marklicitra.com/10-unfortunate-myths-about-mental-illness/11/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Kevin Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:48:43 +0000 http://marklicitra.com/?p=10#comment-16 Hey Mark, I did want to weigh in on number 7, "people with mental illness come from dysfunctional families." I know from my experience working in community mental health that many of our residents had very supportive families who were involved in the recovery of their family members with chronic and persistent mental illness. We do need be be cautious that we don't take an overly traditional pyschoanalytic approach that entirely blames childhood relationships with parents as the sole risk factor of mental illness. However, at the same time we also need to be honest and aware of the impact that trauma (which includes but is not limited to sexual and physical abuse, and witnessing violence) has on its victims. For instance, many people who experience boderline personality disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder (closely related) typically have histories of trauma. In particular, there is a strong connection between childhood sexual abuse and boderline personality disorder. see below, http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/borderline-personality-disorder.shtml I remember attending a NAMI training last year, Mark you were there with me. The presenters were caring family members with relatives who had mental illness. They offered excellent examples of how family can be a wonderful support in someone's recovery. However, the presentation topics seemed to view the risks for mental illness as being primarily organic. While this is an understandable reaction for family members who have been unfairly blamed for the relatives mental illness, I still think something is remiss when we do not view mental illness in a holistic way. We should see mental illness as biological, social, and spiritual. Mental illness exists in all these realms for those who suffer with it, and needs to be treated as such. Just thought I would add to the conversation. Great posts Mark! Hey Mark, I did want to weigh in on number 7, “people with mental illness come from dysfunctional families.” I know from my experience working in community mental health that many of our residents had very supportive families who were involved in the recovery of their family members with chronic and persistent mental illness. We do need be be cautious that we don’t take an overly traditional pyschoanalytic approach that entirely blames childhood relationships with parents as the sole risk factor of mental illness.
However, at the same time we also need to be honest and aware of the impact that trauma (which includes but is not limited to sexual and physical abuse, and witnessing violence) has on its victims.
For instance, many people who experience boderline personality disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder (closely related) typically have histories of trauma. In particular, there is a strong connection between childhood sexual abuse and boderline personality disorder.
see below,
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/borderline-personality-disorder.shtml

I remember attending a NAMI training last year, Mark you were there with me. The presenters were caring family members with relatives who had mental illness. They offered excellent examples of how family can be a wonderful support in someone’s recovery. However, the presentation topics seemed to view the risks for mental illness as being primarily organic. While this is an understandable reaction for family members who have been unfairly blamed for the relatives mental illness, I still think something is remiss when we do not view mental illness in a holistic way. We should see mental illness as biological, social, and spiritual. Mental illness exists in all these realms for those who suffer with it, and needs to be treated as such.
Just thought I would add to the conversation. Great posts Mark!

]]> By: Craig http://marklicitra.com/10-unfortunate-myths-about-mental-illness/11/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Craig Sat, 29 Nov 2008 06:02:43 +0000 http://marklicitra.com/?p=10#comment-14 can we also add: mental illness is a sin. can we also add: mental illness is a sin.

]]> By: mark http://marklicitra.com/10-unfortunate-myths-about-mental-illness/11/comment-page-1/#comment-13 mark Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:45:26 +0000 http://marklicitra.com/?p=10#comment-13 yes! i had a feeling that this series will lead to a sequel (10 more myths...) as people give feedback. Let me say that your #11 is directly related to my #1. In fact, I think they may be the same thing, with the difference being the setting. In my view this is the most unfortunate myth of all. In response to #12, I would modify it a bit to say, "people with mental illness are unemployable." In our current economy even those without mental illness have a hard time finding employment. This myth is devastating, exponentially so when the person suffering from mental illness comes to believe it themselves. but more on that in the sequel... yes! i had a feeling that this series will lead to a sequel (10 more myths…) as people give feedback. Let me say that your #11 is directly related to my #1. In fact, I think they may be the same thing, with the difference being the setting. In my view this is the most unfortunate myth of all.

In response to #12, I would modify it a bit to say, “people with mental illness are unemployable.” In our current economy even those without mental illness have a hard time finding employment. This myth is devastating, exponentially so when the person suffering from mental illness comes to believe it themselves. but more on that in the sequel…

]]> By: WeissGuy http://marklicitra.com/10-unfortunate-myths-about-mental-illness/11/comment-page-1/#comment-12 WeissGuy Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:27:43 +0000 http://marklicitra.com/?p=10#comment-12 May I also add: 11. People with mental illness cannot contribute to society. And, related to that 12. People with mental illness cannot find successful employment. May I also add:
11. People with mental illness cannot contribute to society.
And, related to that
12. People with mental illness cannot find successful employment.

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