Articles Tagged ‘mental illnesses’

Psychiatry & Psychology | By March 17, 2008 | By J. R. White | 5 Comments

Why People Stop Taking Anti-Depressants: Part 1

Recently I read an AP article entitled Experts: Troubled patients may go off meds. This article used the recent college shootings by Steven Kazmierczak as an example of someone who stopped taking a psychiatric drug and then “lost it.” In a nutshell, the article goes on to explain reasons that people go off medications and gives first-hand accounts of people who need to take medicine.

Now obviously there are millions of people who take anti-depressants or other medicines for mental illnesses. And many of these people have stopped taking their medicine (or will in the future) for one reason or another. And very, very few of these people make the headlines for infamous actions. Read more →

Fighting Depression: 10 Step Do-It-Yourself Approach | March 05, 2008 | 4 Comments

Few years back I realized that I was having many of the symptoms of mental illnesses: starting from anxiety, depression, to secondary delusion. They were all very much there. I had crying spells, bulimia, feeling of constant excessive worry, fear, tension and inner restlessness. There was an internal feeling of anger, which was often manifested externally as well. Read more →

Mental Health Stigmatization: A Report of the GNIF | July 31, 2006 | 10 Comments

In recent decades, societal conceptions of mental health and mental illness have evolved significantly. Compared to prevailing attitudes of the early 1900’s, the general public and scientific community alike have become much more aware and knowledgeable of mental illness: its causes, severity, prevalence and treatments [1]. With increased basic and clinical research into the fields of mind, brain and behavior, more effective and accessible treatments for all types of disorders may soon be realized.

However, all the efforts and successes of the scientific community are critically undermined by the presence of a persistent, widespread societal stigma against mental illness. Read more →

Family Doctor or Psychiatrist? | June 15, 2006 | 1 Comment

Who wants to admit that they need to see a psychiatrist? There is often an inner sense of shame and disgrace when people seek psychiatric consultation, yet the pain of mental illness compels many people to seek help from family doctors or psychiatrists.

Most people who suspect mental illness initially go to their family doctors. However, it is valuable if the ill person knows the pro’s and con’s of consulting their family doctor about their mental symptoms as opposed to a psychiatrist or who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental illness. Read more →

Stigmatization: Myths and Minds | June 06, 2006 | 0 Comments

It has only been within the past decade or two that we have begun to better understand the biochemical causes of mental illness. Although there is still much to be discovered, it is now known that mental illnesses are similar to physical illnesses, since they often have biochemical causes and medical treatments.Most cultures view or have viewed severely mentally ill persons as crazy, lacking will-power, possessed, frightening or violent. One universal element of this stigmatization and discrimination against the mentally ill is the traditional belief that severe mental illness is caused by something supernatural or paranormal, such as possession by spirits, curses or sorcery attacks, influence by the moon (“lunacy”), divine punishment, karma, or is the result of a moral transgression. Read more →