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In reply to the discussion: Mentally ill flood ER as states cut services [View all]Neoma
(10,039 posts)I usually joke that people with mental illness are normal people who simply seek help with their emotional or other problems (like hearing voices.) And "crazy" people are people who have mental illness but do not get help or are not even aware that they need help. (Like most all of my extended relatives.) Though to use the word crazy is very hurtful and a very muddled term to use. (I think the word crazy should be used for people who take pleasure in treating people like crap.)
We use the word mental illness because something is physically wrong with the brain. It's not very acceptable to have something wrong with your brain because we as a society view it as the core of our being. It stores all of our identity as a person. Plus, if something is wrong with someones identity, then that person might be dangerous or not in touch with reality! Except this isn't always the case. Having a mental illness shouldn't be viewed any differently from if someone had something wrong with their heart, or if someone had diabetes or cancer. It's an illness that needs to be managed and treated just like any other disease. (Something that even people with mental illness have trouble understanding sometimes.)
As for depression, it isn't simply extreme sadness you know. I think of mental illness like this. Anybody can be triggered and some people are triggered more easily because of their genes. The main trigger is stress, and too much of it. If that leads to suicidal thoughts or actions, it's not something to be treated lightly. Mental illness (among other things) pushes suicidal thoughts into peoples heads. It isn't the person themselves. It's called an illness for a reason and when dealing with stress, raw emotions and loss - anybody can get sick.
So, if you've been abused, neglected, pushed around, or have had any heavy loss such as a family member, your home, your job, etc. Then you just might get sick. Stress can damage you.
I also had someone explain to me that the symptoms of mental illness are really just unhealthy coping mechanisms that you form to cope with any given stressful situation. If the problem is gone and you still have the symptoms from the unhealthy coping mechanisms, this is where you need help. Plus call 911 if you're having suicidal thoughts.