A
fellow blogger, Natalie Jean Champagne, discussed age of diagnosis in
her recent blog article. Here is the link to the article: bit.ly/Wu6EN0
Today, I would like to expand on her article. I do think that
children and older adults are more likely to suffer from mental illness
than we realize. I even have some experience with this. Having worked
with older adults, I saw many people diagnosed with mental illness at
later ages. Whatever the ‘reason’ that people become mentally ill, the
basic fact is that all of us have to learn to live with it. We have to
learn how to use tools. And human beings at either end of the age
spectrum will have ‘special needs’ in relationship to dealing with
mental illness. With a child, parents and/or the school system will most
likely be the first to notice. For the parents, in particular, there
will be a lot of denial connected to guilt. Which is another reason to
seriously address the stigma of mental illness. In order to use the
tools, you have to work through the denial. Which will mean working
through the guilt. As a society, we have to get away from the blame
model. We have to accept mental illness as readily as we accept the
fact of physical illness, because it is the best way to ensure that
people are able to deal with reality and get help more quickly.
In older adults, we deal with denial also. For an older adult suffering from the symptoms of bipolar disorder for first time, or even acknowledging the existence of the symptoms of bipolar disorder for the first time, there is likely to be the same kind of denial that we find in the parents of a child. How many people, especially older adults, still see mental illness as evidence of a character defect and not an illness? Defining mental illness as a weakness is destructive. It keeps people hidden. It keeps them suffering. Again, there is a sense of shame that is totally unnecessary when talking about illness. And the shame is connected to how we define the illness. For an older adult, many of whom are raised with the idea that they are capable of dealing with whatever life throws at them if they are strong, there is something inherently shameful in being seen as weak. For that kind of person, having a mental illness is seen as a sign that you are somehow bad or not worthwhile.
I would like to suggest that there are basic changes needed in the way that we see mental illness. Blame simply has to go. It isn’t a sign of bad character. It isn’t a sign of weakness. It isn’t something that someone would choose to deal with. It is an illness. It has origins in our brain chemistry. It is a signal that something isn’t functioning in our biochemistry. Not a sign that we are bad people. When you accept that concept on a basic level, there is no reason to judge. No reason to believe that someone is a ‘bad’ Mom if their child is mentally ill. No reason to believe that we are weak if we become severely depressed as an older adult.
Now, am I saying that there is no guilt and/or shame connected with a diagnosis as a younger adult? No, of course not. It is still pretty obvious that patients and family members will bring those emotions to a diagnosis at any age. I am just discussing factors that might make the diagnosis more difficult for older adults and the parents of children. Frankly, I believe that guilt and shame have no place when looking at a diagnosis of mental illness at any age. None at all. And I also believe that the root cause of such self-flagellation is the shame that our society sees in the diagnosis. Where did my friend Zac get the idea that nobody wants somebody who is mentally ill? From the shame that he picks up from the society that we all live in. Zac was initially prevented from getting treatment because of his belief. I believe that many others are also. Isn’t it time to let go of the blame? Isn’t it time to provide treatment and understanding for those suffering from illness?
I encourage your willingness to look at how you define those who are mentally ill. If there is any tendency to see the mentally as weak or having character problems, you are needing education. It's time to get that education. Thank you for your willingness to listen to me talk about this need today.
In older adults, we deal with denial also. For an older adult suffering from the symptoms of bipolar disorder for first time, or even acknowledging the existence of the symptoms of bipolar disorder for the first time, there is likely to be the same kind of denial that we find in the parents of a child. How many people, especially older adults, still see mental illness as evidence of a character defect and not an illness? Defining mental illness as a weakness is destructive. It keeps people hidden. It keeps them suffering. Again, there is a sense of shame that is totally unnecessary when talking about illness. And the shame is connected to how we define the illness. For an older adult, many of whom are raised with the idea that they are capable of dealing with whatever life throws at them if they are strong, there is something inherently shameful in being seen as weak. For that kind of person, having a mental illness is seen as a sign that you are somehow bad or not worthwhile.
I would like to suggest that there are basic changes needed in the way that we see mental illness. Blame simply has to go. It isn’t a sign of bad character. It isn’t a sign of weakness. It isn’t something that someone would choose to deal with. It is an illness. It has origins in our brain chemistry. It is a signal that something isn’t functioning in our biochemistry. Not a sign that we are bad people. When you accept that concept on a basic level, there is no reason to judge. No reason to believe that someone is a ‘bad’ Mom if their child is mentally ill. No reason to believe that we are weak if we become severely depressed as an older adult.
Now, am I saying that there is no guilt and/or shame connected with a diagnosis as a younger adult? No, of course not. It is still pretty obvious that patients and family members will bring those emotions to a diagnosis at any age. I am just discussing factors that might make the diagnosis more difficult for older adults and the parents of children. Frankly, I believe that guilt and shame have no place when looking at a diagnosis of mental illness at any age. None at all. And I also believe that the root cause of such self-flagellation is the shame that our society sees in the diagnosis. Where did my friend Zac get the idea that nobody wants somebody who is mentally ill? From the shame that he picks up from the society that we all live in. Zac was initially prevented from getting treatment because of his belief. I believe that many others are also. Isn’t it time to let go of the blame? Isn’t it time to provide treatment and understanding for those suffering from illness?
I encourage your willingness to look at how you define those who are mentally ill. If there is any tendency to see the mentally as weak or having character problems, you are needing education. It's time to get that education. Thank you for your willingness to listen to me talk about this need today.
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