9 Significant differences when diagnosed with Mental versus Physical Illness

Like it or not, there are differences in people’s attitudes and reactions to mental illness than there is to physical illness.  This is because of the stigma and ignorance that surrounds mental illness.  Many people do so unconsciously, not because they are mean but sometimes some of these attitudes are deep seated and ‘learned’,  having been passed from generation to generation from time in memorial.

We can ‘unlearn’ these attitudes.  When we have these attitudes they definitely have effect on those challenged with mental illness which only exacerbates what they are already going through.

 ##1  Mental illness is seen as less real compared to physical illness

Mental illness just does not seem like a legitimate disease or even a medical disease.  To a lot of people, it is just about being sad or ‘depressed’.

##2  You can take time off work for a broken leg without being made to feel you are skivvying but not so with mental illness

Taking time off because you have had a bipolar episode often means that you may find yourself telling your boss you are off because of a migraine or something else which is on the other end of the poles of the earth.  This is because divulging your ‘secret’  may make one feel  mistrusted or perceived to be unreliable.

##3  Letting your boss or employer know about your challenge with mental illness may sometimes lead to discrimination

There are of course many organizations and bosses that are open and non-discriminatory challenged with mental illness themselves.  However, in some cases, you may be unfairly or unconsciously passed for promotion or better opportunities because you are viewed as someone who cannot function well.  Obviously and utterly not true.

##4  Being diagnosed with mental illness could lead to friendship losses or social rejection which may not be so with physical illness

These days everyone wants to be in the clique with the so-called right set of people.  Friendship should not be so fickle that the relationship then hangs on a thread because of owning up to mental illness.  Surely?

##5  Telling people you are booking an appointment to see a doctor has a different reaction from seeing a psychiatrist

Immediately you tell someone you are going to see a psychiatrist, they start thinking of the word ‘shrink’ which is not a good term to even be referring to a psychiatrist.  Why should seeing a psychiatrist bring out a cold sweat?

##6  People are more apprehensive visiting someone in a mental hospital than visiting someone in a general hospital

I know it can be daunting going to a mental hospital not knowing what to expect.  But neither is visiting a general hospital a visit to the theme park either.  You can be distressed either way visiting any hospital.  It is a lonely and sometimes bewildering experience visiting being admitted in a mental hospital.

##7  You can talk about taking your medication for physical illness without shame but not so with mental illness

Taking anti-psychotics medication does not make you an alien from Mars.  People should feel comfortable about talking about their treatment and recovery from mental illness.

##8 People would not know what to do if you suddenly needed help compared to someone who has just fainted

We are educated, shown on media, have first aid courses and so on for physical illness.  There are a lot of gaps with mental illness.  If your friend started behaving weird would you stare, panic, run, or know what to do?

##9  Physical illness is often seen as something outside a person’s control while mental illness is not

How unfair.  It seems that with mental illness, the one challenged with it did something to make it happen.  True or not, proven or not, even when there is a proven link that perhaps an unhealthy lifestyle led to a physical condition, there is still compassion towards the person, more so than can ever be earned with mental illness, often times.

Together we are stomping out the stigma and negative attitudes surrounding mental illness.  As we do, we will have come a long way in defying the stigma surrounding mental illness.  If we all shout out, re-share on our social media, blogs like these, we are definitely making steps.  Why not do so now by clicking the share buttons below?