Man Commits Suicide at DLH

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

What would you call it?

With all due respect, while I understand your reasons for objecting to it, it IS a disadvantage aka a weakness. The problem comes when people are unwilling to accept weakness in themselves and therefore live in denial instead. Not that I'm passing judgment on on them for it, since we all do that to some degree about at least a few aspects of our lives, but the fact remains, that mental illness is hardly counted amongst one's strengths.

With all due respect, we don't generally tell people with cancer that they have a "weakness."

[Morrigoon]

This is true. But again, wouldn't call it a strength.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

What would you call it?

An illness, plain and simple.

Weakness, IMHO, implies a fault, a flaw, and ultimately ... blame. And I don't think that someone who is mentally ill is at fault or to blame. Yes, they lack the tools necessary for rational thought, and in that respect, I suppose that I could semantics-wise see your reasoning. And yet, it is precisely that lack of rational thought that makes cringe at the word "weak."

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

This is true. But again, wouldn't call it a strength.

Perhaps it isn't either.

[Not Afraid]

My earlier comment in response to this:

Originally Posted by [B

Motorboat Cruiser][/b]
It is interesting that, when someone is suffering from enormous physical pain, such as from a terminal illness like cancer, suicide is often seen as a justifiable route. And yet, if that enormous pain is mental, rather than physical, their inability to cope is often viewed as weakness, selfish ... the easy way out.

was addressed to the view from the "outside" and how it is seen a justified under one condition and not justified under another when, in fact, both situations involve physical diseases they just effect different parts of the body.

I agree that the effects of diseases differ greatly. The effects of your liver hurting is different than the effects and outcome of your brain not functioning properly. However, they are both illnesses. We, as a society, just seem to be more accepting of certain malfunctions of the body than of others.

[Strangler Lewis]

If you look at the DSM--and who wouldn't want to--most of the disorders, especially the milder ones, are defined with respect to the outer boundaries of a perceived norm and/or to the extent they inhibit day to day functioning. In this respect, mental illness is a weakness, the same way my asthma is a weakness, but that certainly doesn't make it blameworthy.

I think the stigma attaches because if we acknowledge that our mental disturbances and responses to them can be attributed to our genetic structure, we have to acknowledge that our finer personality traits are beyond our control as well.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

My earlier comment in response to this:



was addressed to the view from the "outside" and how it is seen a justified under one condition and not justified under another when, in fact, both situations involve physical diseases they just effect different parts of the body.

I agree that the effects of diseases differ greatly. The effects of your liver hurting is different than the effects and outcome of your brain not functioning properly. However, they are both illnesses. We, as a society, just seem to be more accepting of certain malfunctions of the body than of others.

Well, in that case, I certainly misunderstood your post. I agree completely.

[€uroMeinke]

The problem with the term "weakness" is it's a comparator and not really a fact. There are many who have turned their perceived weakness or disabilities into strengths so I'm not sure what is gained by characterizing such things as a weakness since any trait can be portrayed as such depending on the circumstances.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by Motorboat Cruiser

An illness, plain and simple.

Weakness, IMHO, implies a fault, a flaw, and ultimately ... blame. And I don't think that someone who is mentally ill is at fault or to blame. Yes, they lack the tools necessary for rational thought, and in that respect, I suppose that I could semantics-wise see your reasoning. And yet, it is precisely that lack of rational thought that makes cringe at the word "weak."

See, our problem is one of definitions. I view something as a weakness but accept it on those terms. Weakness does not require the assignation of blame in my book, it just is what it is. If something makes life more difficult, it's a weakness, as it robs you of resources (mental, emotional, physical) that you would otherwise allocate towards your goals.

But if you have a weakness, that doesn't mean you're to blame for it. If someone is born with a bad lisp and they dream of becoming a news anchor, guess what, it's a weakness. Maybe not an insurmountable one, but it means they are going to have to allocate extra personal resources toward the goal just to make them equal to their competition.

Being able to identify and accept your weaknesses is how you equip yourself to overcoming them.

But again, I think we're using a different definition of weakness. I view weaknesses as something you accept for what they are, without passing judgment on their origin.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by Kevy Baby

It is MUCH harder to acknowledge a problem and accept help. I speak from experience.

My experience was different. For me, once I recognized that I had a problem, seeking help was fairly easy, possibly because I had seen a psychiatrist before so I had experience in telling myself that I had a mental issue that I couldn't handle on my own. What was most difficult for me was recognizing that I had a problem. Not acknowledging it as such, but simply realizing that something was not as it should be.