What Most People Misunderstand About Mental Illness
“Popular” to Have Mental Illness?
When I tell someone upon initially meeting them that I’m bipolar, and they jump to identify themselves as bipolar as well, I take it with a grain of salt. This is not to say they aren’t bipolar, they very well could be. But most people I live and work with do not have a full understanding of the symptoms that qualify as a full episode of mania, psychosis or depression. What most people misunderstand about mental illness these days is, as much as shattering stigma is a noble thing to do, normalizing mental illness should not be the goal.
Getting the proper diagnosis to find the right solutions to that diagnosis should be the goal.
Normalizing mental illness can be great, until mental illness becomes the scapegoat for every act of violence, suicide and abnormal behavior. If we continue to treat mental illness as a disability and underlying reason for people’s inability to discipline themselves, make better choices, or have self-confidence and worth, we are blurring the definition of mental illness.
Self-Diagnosing Blurs The Lines
Since people who don’t have an actual diagnosis from a licensed practitioner may identify themselves as bipolar, manic depressive, depressed, etc., they may use those terms as if they’re labeling for attention or exaggeration. This is blurring the lines of what it means to have a mental illness, since there are specific standards and requirements the patient has to meet to be diagnosed. Those terms encompass length of time they’ve had the symptoms, the depth of the symptoms, the variety of symptoms, and so on and so forth. When diagnoses are thrown around in casual conversation to describe someone’s moodiness or undiagnosed behaviors, the diagnoses are minimized and misunderstood.
The Time Factor
With that said, many of us, those with mental illness included, misunderstand so much when it comes to defining and grasping the scope, width and breadth of this hidden world of mental illness. Because of its hidden and invisible nature, it is all too easy to mistake having the blues for having clinical depression. However, in addition to the terms one must meet for proper diagnosis through the diagnostic and statistical manual (DSM), time is a factor that can show the other facets of a person’s character that address their root cause of their struggles.
Time is a test to observe a person to really know whether they’re:
- going through a rough time that they need to work through with therapy, prayer, coping mechanisms
- needing an attitude adjustment
- practicing a flaw-filled lifestyle of dishonesty with no accountability
- needing a life-transforming touch from the Redeemer Himself, or
- actually needing a prescription to manage his or her brain chemistry imbalance.
Over-diagnosed or Under-diagnosed?
Based on conversations I’ve had with family and friends, some think those with mental health issues are over-diagnosed and over-prescribed medications. Praying through their symptoms for relief, instead of taking prescribed medications seems to be one school of thought. Alternatively, one could argue there are many people under-diagnosed and therefore choosing to self-medicate through substance abuse/drugs and alcohol.
The bottom line is, if one has qualifying symptoms of an actual mental illness and he doesn’t get prescribed medication to handle it, he has the options to cope with it as he chooses. They can cope with their symptoms through healthy means – prayer, natural supports like family and friends, therapy, medication – or unhealthy means – drugs and alcohol. What they cannot do is ignore their need to cope.
The Next Step To Understanding
If you or someone you know are undergoing symptoms of mental illness, severe or otherwise, consult with a mental health professional. There’s nothing shameful about bringing your concerns to the table. Especially if you’re seeking help to understand and cope. Mental illness affects everyone in different ways, and it doesn’t choose to manifest in certain demographics. All of us are prone to having mental health issues throughout our lifetimes. Like taking care of our physical health, our brains need healthy ways to process life and the stressors put on them.
Do you agree, or did I miss something? There’s plenty that can be misunderstood about mental illness. What do you think?
One Comment
ashleyleia
I think unfortunately there seem to be quite a few people that think of the DSM as a checklist they can use to diagnose themselves or others, and they don’t understand it was never meant to be used that way.