Why I Don't Like The Term Mental Ilness
March 27, 2018I
am and have been a huge supporter and advocate for mental health and those who are involved in it. I have a BA in Psychology and further my knowledge, skills and understanding in mental health because I am genuinely interested and passionate about ending the stigma and discrimination of those who experience a mental disorder.
Oh yeah, a mental disorder. I have to admit something. I don't like the term 'mental illness'. I think I always disliked it but never acknowledged it or gave an explanation as to why. I specifically don't like the illness part of the term.
To start off, what is an illness? As defined by Merrium-Webster diciontary online, an illness is
/'ilnəs/noun/a disease or period of sickness affecting the body or mind. The word illness implies sickness, which I already don't like and is faulty for me since it becomes a connotation to being mentally ill. It also implies that something is wrong with you or that you have an infectious disease.
/'ilnəs/noun/a disease or period of sickness affecting the body or mind. The word illness implies sickness, which I already don't like and is faulty for me since it becomes a connotation to being mentally ill. It also implies that something is wrong with you or that you have an infectious disease.
Now, I am aware of the scientific or biological symptoms and causes of a mental disorder. In order for a mental disorder to occur, there is most likely an underlying biological or physiological cause that is stemmed from it, not just a behavioural or psychological one. It also means that the term mental itself is more than the surface and is just the icing on top, so to speak. Mental refers to the mind and the mind is not a tangible object. Rather, what we are referring to is the brain, which is the neurological (the study of the diagnosis and treatment of all things related to the nervous system, which includes the brain) part of this equation. As they say, the brain is simply the physical manifestation of the mind.
Hmm, it's getting a bit too scientific for my liking now.. but it is important to grasp in order to understand my reasonings as to why I don't like the term mental illness. Simply put, referring to a behavioural or cognitive impairment as an illness further perpetrates the idea that a mental disorder is something you came down with or are suffering from when in reality, it is the dysfunctioning or disorder of how one functions in their life.
It's important to acknowledge that I am not separating or singling out one form of health to the other. The way we view and attend to our physical health should be the same for our mental health. As a physical ailment, a mental disorder is something that our body and/or mind has made a shift in and we learn how to function in the way we can or are able to. The major difference--in my opinion--however is that a physical illness is something that harms or hinders your body from properly functioning and may not have a cure for certain illnesses. A mental disorder does and can hinder your body and mind, however it is much more treatable and there are multiple ways to undergo treatment or develop healthy ways to overcome a mental challenge, whether that be through therapeutic means such as cognitive therapy, behavioural therapy or social/community support. Ultimately, it is not so much black and white as it is for physical ailments, rather there is a lot of room for overcoming or coping with it.
So what term do I prefer to use? If you have been reading everything up to know, you would have recognized that I have been using the term disorder. The word disorder literally means
/ˌdisˈôrdər/ noun / a disturbance or derangement that affects the function of the mind or body, or to disturb the normal functioning of physical or mental health. It also means confusion, which, take it as you will, can also imply that the mind and body are in a state of confusion of how and why it is functioning the way it is, but it is a confusion that is temporary and out of order (please don't take that as a negative saying) for the mean time. To have a mental disorder is to experience a cognitive or behavioural disturbance or derangement until the body and/or mind develops ways to either cope with it or become resilient.
That is why I don't like the term 'mental illness'. It is not a disease or something to be "cured". It is simply a way of our body and our mind telling us that sometimes we may not work the way we want it to be but we can work through it and there is nothing wrong with that.
This is my own opinion and does not represent the vast majority of others. What do you guys think about the term? Do you agree or disagree? Let me know and share your thoughts!
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