Mental Illness

In the World we know as it is, there is a thing called mental illness. It is something that has been known to people as far back as Ancient China and Greece. Even more or less therapeutic methods has been available to treat mental illness. However, it wasn't until 1883 when mental illness had been properly recorded and diagnosed.

It's been roughly 138 years since then and with the course of humanity rapidly changing there has been something that's been baffling me for quite a while now- actually it's been years.

In our society, regardless of your stance of mental illnesses those with the burden of disorders are frowned upon or at least pitied in ways where it is unhelpful. If one does not believe in mental health then they easily feel disgusted in the presence of someone who does have an illness. If one does believe in mental health they may take it upon themselves to announce to the world (their 200 followers on Instagram) that "mental health matters" but then negatively effect people who suffer from mental illness.

Either shamed or being reduced to a social justice point. That's just cruel.

I would like to put something into perspective. An analogy of sorts that hopefully at least visualizes the stigma.

Wolf Hierarchy Analogy

Use your imagination and pretend that we are wolves, ok? I promise it's not what you think and it's important.

Wolves are animals living in large groups like people and a hierarchy. There are the beta wolves, the omega wolves, the alphas and the deltas correct? Each wolf has their role in society. The alphas are leaders, the betas are second, the deltas are the common solider and the omegas are the guards. That's what you've been told correct?

Well, guess what. You've been lied to. There is no such thing as a wolf hierarchy. The same man, David Mech who had proposed the idea of "wolf hierarchy" has rejected his own idea since 1999. 22 years ago.

The construct of a hierarchy is false and what is more accurate are wolf families that are merely in groups.

So what does this have to do with mental illness? If it wasn't obvious, some people really treat people with mental illnesses like some sort of messed up hierarchy. Like the ones who aren't mentally ill or pretend to not notice mental illness symptoms are regarded as people who are "stable" and "ideal".

Even if you don't say it or think it admit it. There are people out here just really glorifying that they're: "stable, happy and at peace unlike people with mental illnesses". They tell themselves; "mental illnesses are exaggerated" or something like "they're attention seeking". On the opposite spectrum; "mental illness looks so freaking cool!!!" or "I'm mentally ill too! My mom said I cant go on my tablet for a day because I bullied a classmate!".

While mentally ill people are regarded as "dangerous" or "weird". I'm not necessarily talking about people with anxiety and depression. They're the most commonly spoken about and it's great to see some actual meaningful conversations. But other mental illnesses and disorders are severely mishandled in conversations and have tons of misconceptions.

Awful Misconceptions

Schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, multiple-personality disorder, and other illnesses that are misrepresented. From common misconceptions, and from conversations I have had in the past, people with disorders other than anxiety and depression are seen as "violent", "extremely moody", "untrustworthy". I mean, take a look at most famous movies and televisions shows that are not from the last decade that depict these specific mental illnesses. Schizophrenia. Borderline personality disorder. Multiple-personality disorder.

Because beloved movies of the past "can do absolutely no wrong", the same media that depicts the mentally ill as any type of "bad". Movies such as Silver Lining's Playbook, Split, Primal Fear, The Three Faces of Eve that have either terribly misrepresented mental illness or have played mental illnesses for laughs. I can't tell which is worse because one undermines severe issues that affect millions of people and the other gives you "top 10 facts about _____" and straight up lies to you while trying to be "helpful".

Even people with anxiety and depression, two commonly talked about mental illnesses are horribly misrepresented in media. People with anxiety are "represented" as paranoid or straight up "cowardly" people for laughs and depressed people are "represented" with "being lazy" or "someone who needs to walk outside".

Conclusion

As mentioned earlier in my "wolf analogy" instead of treating anyone with any sort of mental illness with distance and repulsiveness. We as people need to show more compassion in general. In today's world, in any time in history it is hard to trust people.

I agree, human beings are cruel in the most disgusting ways. But when people are treated as such just for the lone factor they have a mental illness is just being unreasonable and arrogant.

You don't have to be friends with everyone, I'm certainly not and human beings don't naturally have more than 100 actual friends they get to know and enjoy. But, no need to treat strangers with hostility either.

What can you take away from this piece? Don't treat anyone with any kind of mental illness as someone below you just because you have the audacity to claim "you are normal and they're not".

Thank you for the read.