Top 6 Myths of Mental Illness

Despite all the advances in the medical field and despite how the media tries to change opinions of mental illness, it remains today a subject that people remain ignorant about. There are a lot of myths that surround mental illness.

Psychiatric disorders are not true medical illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. People who have a mental illness are just "crazy." Brain disorders, like heart disease and diabetes, are legitimate medical illnesses. Research shows there are genetic and biological causes for psychiatric disorders, and they can be treated effectively.

People with a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, are usually dangerous and violent. The truth is that the incidence of violence in people who have a brain disorder is not much higher than it is in the general population. Those suffering from a psychosis such as schizophrenia are more often frightened, confused and despairing than violent.

Schizophrenia means split personality, and there is no way to control it. Schizophrenia is often confused with multiple personality disorder. Actually, schizophrenia is a brain disorder that robs people of their ability to think clearly and logically. The estimated 2.5 million Americans with schizophrenia have symptoms ranging from social withdrawal to hallucinations and delusions. Medication has helped many of these individuals to lead fulfilling, productive lives.

Depression and other illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, do not affect children or adolescents. Any problems they have are just a part of growing up. Children and adolescents can develop severe mental illnesses. In the United States, one in ten children and adolescents have a mental disorder severe enough to cause impairment. However, only about 20 percent of these children receive needed treatment. Left untreated, these problems can get worse. Anyone talking about suicide should be taken very seriously.

Addiction is a lifestyle choice and shows a lack of willpower. People with a substance abuse problem are morally weak or "bad". Addiction is a disease that generally results from changes in brain chemistry. It has nothing to do with being a "bad" person.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), formerly known as "shock treatment," is painful and barbaric. Modern ECT has given a new lease on life to many people who suffer from severe and debilitating depression. It is used when other treatments such as psychotherapy or medication fail or cannot be used. Patients who receive ECT are asleep and under anesthesia, so they do not feel anything.

Because of the faulty thinking behind mental illness, many people do not get the help they need because they are too ashamed to seek help. This is sad because many lives could be changed for the better if more people were educated on mental illness and not regard it as a social stigma.