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By: Jane
E. DeVries, Ph.D. Mental illness is really a physical illness because it is a disease of the brain. Unfortunately, the mentally ill are judged as though they have an active choice in that brain disease. Yet no one “looks down on the diabetic” when his/her blood sugar is high or low. In fact diabetics soliciting advice on their disease can do so comfortably and without the least bit concern that they will be judged harshly for symptoms of their illness. Diabetics aren’t necessarily thrilled was thrilled about taking medication or insulin shots the hope of a long and healthy life by following an individual specific treatment beats the alternative of poor health. Unfortunately, those with symptoms of mental illness aren’t so readily shared with others. Even though there is a great deal of research on mental illness as a brain disease because the symptoms come out in behavior changes people observing are full of judgments – even if there is no basis for those opinions. Because of this stigma people who may have a mental illness try to hide their symptoms or find treatments on their own to reduce the behaviors associated with mental illness. When others observe behaviors consistent with mental illness they are usually silent “What would the person think or what would people think if the behaviors were addresses?” If we saw someone in physical crisis we would offer to assistance yet behavioral crisis is ignored even if it is physically based. If an individual with a mental illness brings up the subject to others they are very uncomfortable – worried about having a “fruitcake” in their midst. This puts those on the journey to recovery between a rock and a hard place. One of the most important components of recovery is relationships with family, friends, coworkers and so forth. It’s pretty hard to have those supportive types of relationships if one is forced to hide the truth. Research, interviews, surveys, and the like have been conducted to identify the barriers to mental illness recovery. The University of Waikato in New Zealand conducted a study of the Narratives of Recovery from Disabling Mental Health (see the International Recovery pages). Their interviews of people recovering from a severe mental illness overwhelmingly identified that the attitudes and behaviors of others were the most common barrier to recovery. The behaviors of others included: fear, lack of understanding, rejection, stigmatizing, and rejection of mental illness. Those striving toward recovery had to cope with people’s rejection from their families, friends, jobs, and society in general. For many it was easier to tolerate strange behavior than to talk about it “out loud” and do something to help. The strongest consistency among those with mental illness, those working with it, and the general population is around the barriers. While there is great variability around treatment and recovery models the barriers are consistent across sources with the number one the stigmatization and attitude of others. Hopefully increased awareness of recovery from mental illness will reduce those naive and unfounded behaviors. Yet this may be optimistic as well since how can one promote recovery if one is rejected for doing so? Part of recovery strategies may have to revolve around those with mental illness developing quick, confident responses for those who are “clueless” about mental illness recovery. People with mental illness diagnoses and those who work in the mental health field will have to be the first to reject stigmatizing before the general population follows suit. While this would appear to be common sense these individuals wear multiple hats and one of those hats is as the general population. Developing assertiveness skills, to challenge mythological thinking may the best strategy over time to change society’s mind on recovery. If this is the case we better get started. We have a lot of years to make up for! |
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Recovery Models n Definitions n Barriers to Recovery n Recovery Tools n International Recovery Awareness
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