There was a comment on another thread that said "true mental illness can't be cured" and this has line of thinking has alwys intrigued me. This is not about that thread or that comment specifically but in general there seems to often be the line of thought that to be truly mentally ill you have to have a chronic debilitating illness. I know this thinking exists outside of the field of psychiatry, possibly within it as well and I'm interested in people's thoughts.
To me mental illness exists on a continuum in the same way that physical illness does. I can have a cold or the flu and this is considered physical illness despite the fact that it is short term and can definitely be 'cured'. To me illness is anytime the body or mind is not healthy, and not functioning as it should and that can range from very mild illness to very chonic severe illness. Yes, someone with cancer is sicker than someone with a cold and yes someone with paranoid schizophrenia is sicker than someone with dysthymia but me to they are all still ill. I'm not sure where the idea comes from that illness such as depression or anxiety are not 'true' mental illness. Are you not "truly' physically sick if you have a cold or the flu?
Mosby defines illness as:
an abnormal process in which aspects of the social, physical, emotional, or intellectual condition and function of a person are diminished or impaired compared with that person's previous condition.
I like it as it encompasses all aspects of a person and sets no limitations on duration, intensity or other conditions that one must meet before being considered truly ill.
Very interesting perspectives and insights! As you have each mentioned it can be such a complex field and one that still has a lot of room for knowledge and growth - it will be very interesting to see how mental illness is viewed 5, 10 or 20 years from now.
Will stigma be less and will this give it more credibility?
Will the vocabulary change to maybe better speak to the issues.
Will there be an agreed upon definition (generally speaking not medically DSM language)?
Will less chronic / less evere mental illnesses be validated as 'real' illness? What will the study of neurobology tell us?
Could it be that many of these illnesses will someday fall under neurological illness in the same way that epilepsy, autism, alzheimers/dementia, parkinsons and other brain based illnesses have shifted?
Lots to think about! Great to read so many interesting thoughts and opinions.
Meraki
188 Posts
Very interesting perspectives and insights! As you have each mentioned it can be such a complex field and one that still has a lot of room for knowledge and growth - it will be very interesting to see how mental illness is viewed 5, 10 or 20 years from now.
Will stigma be less and will this give it more credibility?
Will the vocabulary change to maybe better speak to the issues.
Will there be an agreed upon definition (generally speaking not medically DSM language)?
Will less chronic / less evere mental illnesses be validated as 'real' illness? What will the study of neurobology tell us?
Could it be that many of these illnesses will someday fall under neurological illness in the same way that epilepsy, autism, alzheimers/dementia, parkinsons and other brain based illnesses have shifted?
Lots to think about! Great to read so many interesting thoughts and opinions.