Neurotransmissions -- MYTH VS. REALITY

Mental illness . . . myth vs. reality

One of the reasons that so much stigma still surrounds depression and other mental illnesses is that a large number of people are severely misinformed about these disorders.
Most of us have heard someone mistakenly equate schizophrenia with multiple personalities, for instance. This is a fairly egregious error, but it's an error that's easy to set straight. However, when the public at large is woefully ignorant of the nature of mental illness in general, then people with mental disorders fall victim to derision, discrimination, and bad public policy. Insult is added to injury, in other words.
Everybody has a bad day now and then; everyone gets depressed or feels "crazy" sometimes. People who are suffering from the real thing, however, know that their illnesses aren't just temporary feelings caused by unpleasant events. If you're not suffering from clinical depression, your most trying day mightjust be more pleasant than what someone with that malady would consider a good day. And people with depression? Well, their bad days are even worse! The point is, while a person's immediate situation does make a differencein his or her mood, it can't explain away chronic or persistent, recurring depressed moods. Mental illnessses are real illnesses.

Myths about mental illness in general

MYTH REALITY

Mentally ill people could help getting ill if they tried a little harder. Mental illness doesn't strike because a person lacks willpower.

It's the way they were brought up or the way they live that made them ill. Although certain episodes of mental disorders can be triggered or worsened by life events, they are caused by physical events occurring in the brain, such as improper levels of chemicals called neurotransmitters.

Mental illness is rare. More than 50 percent of U.S. residents suffer from a mental illness at some point in their lives.

No one in my family has had it, so I don't have to worry. While there are genetic predispositions to certain mental disorders, many people with nofamily history of such disorders become ill; likewise, many with such familyhistories are mentally healthy all their lives.
Mentally ill people are violent. Numerous studies indicate that mentally ill people are no more likely to commit violent acts than anyone else. In fact, mentally ill people who are in treatment may be statistically less violent than the general population.

Congress passed a law that guarantees mental health coverage to everyone. Insurance carriers and employers in the U.S. routinely provide little or no coverage for mental health disorders. Despite some small victories on the legislative front, very few Americans enjoy parity of coverage for physical and mental illnesses. Obviously, those Americans who have no health insurance at all aren't getting the best mental health treatment either.

Myths about depression

MYTH REALITY

People with depression are lazy. Depression is a serious illness that robs its victims of physical and mental energy. It makes as much sense to say that people with the flu are lazy.
People with depression are just trying to get attention. They should just "snap out of it." While depressiondoes sometimes trigger multiple related physical ailments, its victimsare not just "playing sick"; they are sick. Try telling someone with heart disease to snap out of it.

"I've always been too busy to be depressed." You've been damn lucky!

Unlike other mental illnesses, depression isn't that bad. The symptoms of depression are typically less dramatic than those of certain other illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This does not negate the fact that depression invariably makes its victims miserable, can lead to life-threatening physical complications, and often kills.

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DISCLAIMER:This content on this page is provided as background information only and is not intended as a substitute for actual diagnosis or treatment. The owner of this site, who is not a mental health professional, does not guarantee the accuracy of the information herein. If you think you may be experiencing clinical depression, please contact a mental health professional promptly.

MYTH	REALITY
Mentally ill people could help getting ill if they tried a little harder.	Mental illness doesn't strike because a person lacks willpower.
It's the way they were brought up or the way they live that made them ill.	Although certain episodes of mental disorders can be triggered or worsened by life events, they are caused by physical events occurring in the brain, such as improper levels of chemicals called neurotransmitters.
Mental illness is rare.	More than 50 percent of U.S. residents suffer from a mental illness at some point in their lives.
No one in my family has had it, so I don't have to worry.	While there are genetic predispositions to certain mental disorders, many people with nofamily history of such disorders become ill; likewise, many with such familyhistories are mentally healthy all their lives.
Mentally ill people are violent.	Numerous studies indicate that mentally ill people are no more likely to commit violent acts than anyone else. In fact, mentally ill people who are in treatment may be statistically less violent than the general population.
Congress passed a law that guarantees mental health coverage to everyone.	Insurance carriers and employers in the U.S. routinely provide little or no coverage for mental health disorders. Despite some small victories on the legislative front, very few Americans enjoy parity of coverage for physical and mental illnesses. Obviously, those Americans who have no health insurance at all aren't getting the best mental health treatment either.

MYTH	REALITY
People with depression are lazy.	Depression is a serious illness that robs its victims of physical and mental energy. It makes as much sense to say that people with the flu are lazy.
People with depression are just trying to get attention. They should just "snap out of it."	While depressiondoes sometimes trigger multiple related physical ailments, its victimsare not just "playing sick"; they are sick. Try telling someone with heart disease to snap out of it.
"I've always been too busy to be depressed."	You've been damn lucky!
Unlike other mental illnesses, depression isn't that bad.	The symptoms of depression are typically less dramatic than those of certain other illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This does not negate the fact that depression invariably makes its victims miserable, can lead to life-threatening physical complications, and often kills.