Mental Disorders

Unlike a disease, an 'illness' is defined as a deviation from the societal norm. So when protective middle class parents who want to raise their kids the 'right way' see that they're not as happy as they should be; not as social as they should be; or not getting the right grades they want, they label it as a mental disorder. Depression is a first world problem. Once people get everything they 'need', such as food, clothing, and shelter, they look at the things they 'want'. They obsess over money, popularity, or other things they see that their friends have and wonder, "can I be happier if I were like them?" and never try to seek happiness by themselves. Hospitals in countries like China and Japan don't list things like depression as a clinical disease, because everyone in the country is too busy trying to bust their asses in school to get a job in a cut-throat economy. However, they have different kinds of mental illnesses that we don't. In Japan, it's considered a mental illness if you don't respect your parents - since they are the ones who gave birth to you and raised you as a baby. If you don't listen to them, then you are considered a problem child in their society. Yet that mindset doesn't occur in America... fucked up, right? I'm not saying things like depression or anxiety don't exist; they are very real and cripple the lives of many people who cannot adjust to society. Imbalance of chemicals within the brain is one factor that contributes to such disorders, but what matters far more is the way you were raised.

For example - Kids who diagnosed with ADHD aren't dumb; they were just never interested in school, and therefore could never pay attention. That could either be attributed to our flawed educational system, or how little their parents emphasized the importance of schoolwork to their kids. Depression is something that commonly develops among lonely children whose parents never taught them how to socialize well and make friends with other kids. They become sad when they have no one to talk to, and find their lives less meaningful without someone to share it with. Sometimes all they needed was support from their family and friends rather than medication. The bottom line is: The majority of the way you want to think comes from the way you were raised, and the rest is all in your head. Sources: took some cognitive science & medical anthropology courses in college. Also been diagnosed with just about everything by psychiatrists. Lawlz.

I was falsely diagnosed with depression. It turned out I was right, and it was manic-depression coupled with several other things, and the medication I was on was the exact worst thing for me (edit: or at least, for my social/romantic life). I also have a certain genetic disorder that, when combined with high intelligence, looks like Asperger's Syndrome to people who aren't familiar with Asperger's (or with high-functioning autism, if you're of the opinion that they're not the same thing), but since it's something with a huge stigma against it I'd rather not say it in public forum. Thanks to all that, I'm probably too biased to present an opinion here on how people with mental disorders should be treated. There is also the question of predisposition versus inherency. Some illnesses are going to be there no matter what, others are in the genes but are going to present depending on how a child is raised, or what chemicals are in the air or even the placental bloodstream. Still others are apparently purely based on culture and nurture. Oh, and depression isn't just a first-world problem. It's just that its over-diagnosis is a first-world problem. Edit: Wow, that was a lot more typos than I usually make.

I just want to point out that you can't take medicine solely for attention since you'd need to be professionally diagnosed to get your hands on almost any of the meds (at least in America). Of course mental disorders exist. But say they "didn't"... and you just had all of these people craving attention so badly that they create imaginary conditions and take pills that could permanently damage their bodies to gain attention for this imaginary condition? I'd label that in itself as an emotional and/or mental condition. Does anyone stop to think that maybe people who go so far to get an ounce of attention might NEED the attention? I knew a girl in HS who split her leg open and needed 20 some odd stitches... all for the sake of attention.

People dont choose to have one sadly... I have volunteered and worked with children and teens and its real they aren't mentally weak just born that way sadly.. meds can help however some meds aren't always right for a person sometimes you take the wrong meds side effects are terrible it can be higher anxiety or suicidal thoughts takes a while to find a right pill with right amount of dosage along with changing dosages as the person grows up its a very challenging process... like I have several mental disabilities myself but its in the past still affects me but ya its real but its also any I'm working hard to help others also :) going to social work program when school starts

I believe mental disorders are a very serious problem in society. I have an anxiety disorder myself that happens to apparently run in women of my family sadly. I think society in general should be taught more on these disorders. I don't know how many times I've heard people tell me that I just need to get our more and overcome my anxiety of being around crowds, which I really can't. I feel a lot of our society seems to think mental disorders aren't real. It's a very sad fact. On a happy note, I feel that the otaku community is rather accepting of those who are different so I think all of us that do have problems are in the right place.

Hey there folks, just chiming in. I actually do have Autism/sensory disorder. I can confirm people really just think you are full of it when you tell them you have certain problems. So I have just grown to ignore them, I know what's going on in my head if they don't like it I can't help them. Though, I was more recently diagnosed (Late last year) Not currently on any type of medication, I have always been somewhat hesitant about med's and such. Going to make a few more post due to Text limit.

Adding to my previous post. I usually experience; Heavy social anxiety,OCD,paranoia , am very de-sensitized emotionally, can be a bit slow at times. As for the sensory; Horrid balance, I when I wake up in the mornings I am usually shaking for a few min, some textures of items/food make me gag/feel pain/ confuse me greatly and I can not feel hot and cold perfectly all the time.

Usually the 2 types of people I run into that give me the most problems are... 1. The types who think you are over-reacting and have no problems and 2. the types who acknowledge you have problems and become very overly sympathetic and act like its the end of the world. It does grow to be bothersome. :( When I think back to my school years it really does explain why I had such a hard time though. I am at least glad I know it was somewhat out of my hands.