10 Facts and Myths about Mental illness

[easttexaslefty]

" Misconceptions about mental illness contribute to the sigma, which leads many people to be ashamed and prevents them from seeking help,"said Constance Liber, NARSAD President. "Dispelling these myths is a powerful step toward eradicating the sigma and allaying the fears surrounding brain disorders."

Myth #1: Psychiatric disorders are not true medical illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. People who have mental illness are just "Crazy."

Fact: Brain disorders, like heart disease and diabetes, are legitimate medical illnesses. Research shows there genetic and biological causes for phychiatric disorders, and they can be treated effectively.

Myth #4: Depression results from a personality weekness or charater flaws, and people who are depressed could just snap out of it it they tried hard enough.

Fact: Depression has nothing to do with being lazy or weak. It results from changes in brain chemistry or brain function, and with medication and/or psychotherapy often people recover.

Myth #9: Addiction is a lifestyle choice and shows a lack of willpower. People with a substance are morally weak or "bad".

Fact: Addiction is a disease that generally results from changes in brain chemistry. It has nothing to do with being "bad".

Interested in reading the rest?
http://www.mhagstl.org/myths.htm

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. I disagree. Addition is a disease that only bad people get. It has nothing to do with brain chem.

"Fact: Addition is a disease that generally results from changes in brain chemistry. It has nothing to do with being 'bad'."

[ForrestGump]

3. Oh sure, know-it-all.

Explain division, then.

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. Division is unspeakable evil. Whisper it only the most hushed of tones.

And pray that they haven't heard us speak their name...

[skygazer]

5. Addition's not so bad

But algebra is just plain evil. :scared:

[easttexaslefty]

6. I never said I was good at spelling,

typing, grammar or really much of anythingx(

[Fire Walk With Me]

7. I'm sorry- this -is- the Lounge, where nits are picked.

I would have been serious in GD. And I am an addict, so I can make addict jokes. :hug:

[easttexaslefty]

9. no worries

:hi:

[HEyHEY]

12. Addition is a disease math teachers get.

[skygazer]

2. Good link

A lot of people have a tendency to immediately assume some sort of mental illness in people who a) commit heinous acts or b) behave erratically. I don't know how many times people have been described to me as bi-polar simply because they're acting out. To me, it minimizes the seriousness of mental disorders and paints those who suffer from them as either goofy or dangerous.

[JonLP24]

8. Yes! It understands chemical dependency

Most people don't understand it so they attack them

[XemaSab]

10. Myth: people with mental illness are unaware of spelling or grammar

:P

[Fire Walk With Me]

11. Put a neat freak in a dirty room.

If you're that sort of person. ;)