Mental Illness

donkey

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill website defines mental illness as:

Mental illnesses are disorders of the brain that disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, moods, and ability to relate to others

They further define Schizophrenia as:

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that interferes with a person’s ability to think clearly, manage emotions, make decisions, and relate to others. Many people with schizophrenia have hallucinations and delusions, meaning they hear and see things that aren’t there and believe things that are not real or true.

Doesn't this sound like some of the "faith"ful?

ashitaka

LOL.....that Schizo definition sounds a lot like people when they refer to their invisible God. Off to the loony bin with them!

ash

drwtsn32

Yeah, it sounds like most JW's have Schizophrenia.

Of course there is a big difference between the mental disorder and the way JW's or any other cult members behave. True schizophrenia is probably caused by a problem with someone's brain chemistry and is treated with medication (I'm guessing). The behavior of the latter is simply a result of a controlling cult and can be unlearned without medication.

Gadget

Chemical imbalances can often be controled by medication and let the person lead a normal life. Its the same as someone taking antacids to control a chemical imbalance in their stomac, but people put such a stigma on it. I know of a few wittnesses who keep on having relapses because they feel guilty for taking medication and talking to therapists ect instead of talking to the elders. Its screwing peoples lives up. If you had a broken leg would you go to the elders for help, or to the trained dr's at the hospital?

donkey

Ashi,

Swallow 3 bibles and call me in the morning.

OrbitingTheSun

I have no doubts that at least a few of the characters in the Bible were mentally ill.

Cassiline

Ashi,
Swallow 3 bibles and call me in the morning.

LMAO

Introspection

meaning they hear and see things that aren’t there and believe things that are not real or true.

There are a couple of different things here, one thing is sensory experience that doesn't reflect reality, the other is believing in things that are not real. The fact that some people may not have hallucinations and such does not mean they see things as they really are, they may have some convoluted interpretation of the same sensory experience. Most people suffer from the disease of believing in their interpretation of what they sense, but if there is only one reality then obviously most of the many interpretations has to be wrong. The subtler disorder is believing in the story that you come up with, and I would say that's a bigger problem since it is more widespread and not recognized as a distortion of reality.

shamus

Mental illness is USUALLY caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Take silly ol' me, for instance. I suffer from, believe it or not, depression. For the last 7 or so years, I have been on AD's, and am ok now - for now. However, it took me YEARS to start taking it regularly. It's because of the way that people look at you when you take AD's (Anti-depressants). There are horrible signs attached to anyone who needs them, and it makes you feel bad when you rely on them.

The reason why most people who suffer from schitzophrenia (sp?) is they get admitted to the hospital, get their meds all sorted out, hate the side effects, then, when feeling better, stop using them. Then they CRASH. Then, they go back to the hospital to get their balance sorted out again.... it's a horrible disease - ever see A Beautiful Mind? I think that anyone who wants to see what its like should see that. That is only one case of schitzophrenia - some think it's perfectly normal to walk outside naked! It's horrible to think about...

Not that I have schitzophrenia, or anything... he he...

garybuss

Think of what might happen if a person were paranoid, with grandiose delusions, hallucinations of spirits talking to him, happened to be an alcoholic attorney with unresolved resentment, a prolific writer, and had virtual control of a huge printing corporation. What would his product be? And what characteristics would he promote to his followers?

Any ideas?

Mental Illness

Share this