What Do People Think About The Term 'mental Illness'?

[Queen Boudica]

I struggle with the whole 'mental illness' thing. It is linked to all things horrible about what happened to my sister. Yet I have complex trauma which people refer to as a 'mental illness'. My psychologist hates that term he says people tend to link that term and use it to describe any person who does anything 'crazy' like going on a shooting rampage. But then there is all this talk about destigmatising mental illness and how we should talk about it.

I don't know is the actual term 'mentally ill' stigmatising?

I think it is. People jump to all sorts of ideas about mental illness. So maybe my psychologist is right. I l have told people I have complex trauma, but then like my ex who looked it up and immediately labelled me as borderline personality disorder. And that label brings with it a whole load of incorrect assumptions by those ignorant of the condition. Sometimes I just think describing myself as suffering from depression or anxiety is much less stigmatising. But even those are put under mental illness and some people associate it with people murdering their kids. I prefer complex trauma, I can say I have anxiety and depression due to childhood trauma and describe how it affects your whole development. Maybe people have a bit more compassion about that? But maybe not. But if I say PTSD symptoms then again people jump to a whole load of ignorant conclusions.

I think people should talk about their mental condition so it might become more normalised and more people don't have this idea that it is about crazy people doing horrible things.

In the end in order to get help from the mental health services, get a diagnosis you are classified as mentally ill aren't you? You are put together with such a range of mental illnesses. So many people think about mental illness as psychosis and violence and out of control, can't look after yourself, burden on community, dangerous, blah blah.

Any way that is a long ramble because I just don't know where I am with any of this. What do people think of the term mental illness? Do you tell people you are mentally ill, or just use the diagnosed term like PTSD or do you even tell people at all? What are peoples experiences if they talk about it to friends, work? I'm very wary but i don't want to be.

 

[Ed Norton]

I hate that term.

 

[Queen Boudica]

But why do you hate it?

 

[Kintsugi]

I prefer to identify as having a neurological condition, personally... I know that seems like stretching the truth to some, but that is how I view my PTSD. I don't dislike the term mental illness, though. When I'm doing poorly, I often say that I feel really ill, and those who know me very well can guess that I mean emotionally.

 

[Deleted member 28942]

I don't like it either. I have complex trauma and I like to think of it as part of my human struggles. It's not illness. It's part of my humanity. Like anyone else who comes from dysfunctional family, I struggle with issues of self worth, trust, intimacy. I am working on those and it takes time.

 

[Tinyflame]

Definitely wholly stigmatizing, & in even my mind basically equated to being thought of as a 'raving lunatic'. Definitely makes one ill or feel ill though. But mostly I think so much is not known yet, & there is such a complex interplay of dynamics, biology, physical illness, history, development. And trauma is the worst, really. Because so much of it (for me, except for anxiety) is/has been related to that.

ETA, also, where, or how, does one differentiate between simply losing all hope? I do believe anyone, or virtually everyone, can be faced with too many or too profound challenges compared to their resources. Even personality & sensitivity, too, plays a part.

Or, too, for some people even the social mores of the day could affect people: intolerance, bullying etc.

In fact, considering what so many people have gone through on this forum (& that's only the parts they've shared), who wouldn't be affected profoundly from such things?

 

[Ed Norton]

I think 2 reasons: 1, the stigma 2, I was in a treatment program that's now a counseling center and all they did was constantly say 'mental illness' and I felt like a freak.

 

[Queen Boudica]

I like to think of it as part of my human struggles. It's not illness. It's part of my humanity. Like anyone else who comes from dysfunctional family, I struggle with issues of self worth, trust, intimacy. I am working on those and it takes time.

I like that. "It is part of my human struggles, my humanity"

As soon as I start to think mental and illness I start to panic and feel sick but then I am so triggered because of what happened to my sister I can't not feel that.

I also like the term neurological. It is neurological, they have shown complex trauma in childhood affects how the brain develops.

 

[Queen Boudica]

I was in a treatment program that's now a counseling center and all they did was constantly say 'mental illness' and I felt like a freak.

Yes personally I think some of the people in mental health enjoy that power role and even though they are treating you they are also making you feel like a freak. I know there are good people, but I think some in their well meaningness also just don't get it. Oh so triggered.

 

[hodge]

Queen Boudica, you have expressed my reasoning for outing myself as having PTSD. I've got it. No getting rid of it after more than 15 years. So I'm fighting the stigma. I live in a small town (about 1400), and I have a lot of local friends on FB. I've posted things about having PTSD there, and to their credit, they have not thrown me over the bus. Many have even been quite supportive.

 

[hodge]

Queen Boudica, you have expressed my reasoning for outing myself as having PTSD. I've got it. No getting ri...

Everyone can see from my FB that I'm not a freak, not violent by any stretch of the imagination, have good values, and love animals and the most vulnerable among us..

 

[Ed Norton]

In my case, no-the social workers meant well just the majority of the people were low functioning and as a result had to be told about their mental illness constantly...To their credit they would frequently have some reason to tell everyone 'he's a pilot'. I still attend one group, healing from trauma and I never hear that word anymore.