Mental Disabilities

Contributor: Mistress M. Mistress M.
So, the idea of being "mentally ill" has become mentally disabled. Do you believe that people who are mentally ill are just as disabled as someone with a physical disability?
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
People who are mentally ill are not disabled.
30
People who are mentally ill are disabled.
47
People who are mentally ill/disabled can be hard to understand.
30
I know people who are mentally disabled, and I love them all the same.
72
Total votes: 179 (110 voters)
Poll is closed
02/12/2011
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Contributor: PussyGalore PussyGalore
Um, when did this happen? The two are completely different, in my book. Mentally disabled means you have lower learning capacity than the average person. Mentally ill encompasses so many different emotional and mood disorders, but most of the people suffering from mental illnesses are highly intelligent.
02/14/2011
Contributor: Jobthingy Jobthingy
Quote:
Originally posted by PussyGalore
Um, when did this happen? The two are completely different, in my book. Mentally disabled means you have lower learning capacity than the average person. Mentally ill encompasses so many different emotional and mood disorders, but most of the people ... more
Yeah there is a HUGE difference between mental illness and disability.
02/14/2011
Contributor: PussyGalore PussyGalore
Quote:
Originally posted by Jobthingy
Yeah there is a HUGE difference between mental illness and disability.
I have yet to meet an Asperger's 'patient' who isn't borderline genius and everyone I know with depression is incredibly intelligent, and sensitive.

I so hate it when terms get convoluted and it's becoming increasingly difficult for me to not start throwing dictionaries and the DSMV at people.
02/14/2011
Contributor: Adam02viper Adam02viper
I don’t think people who are mentally disabled are the same as physically disabled but then again it depends on your definition of mentally disabled for instance I am bi-polar {mentally ill} but i am also legally blind {physically disabled} and my blindness affects me a lot more than my bi-polar does but i could live normally if i was just bi-polar but because of my blindness i cant so no people that are mentally disabled and people that are physically disabled are way different in my opinion
02/14/2011
Contributor: Miss Jenn Miss Jenn
Theres a huge difference....
Mentally ill = bi-polar, even ADHD/Autism/aspergers, etc.
Mentally disabled = a mental handicap, may be 20 years old, but the mind of a 10 year old. Cerebral Palsy and disabilities of the like.
02/14/2011
Contributor: married with children married with children
i think it depends on what their illness is, as to weather or not they are disabled.
02/14/2011
Contributor: markeagleone markeagleone
Quote:
Originally posted by Mistress M.
So, the idea of being "mentally ill" has become mentally disabled. Do you believe that people who are mentally ill are just as disabled as someone with a physical disability?
I believe that the words are like mixing beans and peas. They all refer to one common thing, a problem with some aspect of the brain. Mental illness can be disabling and a mental disability can be caused by mental illness. To me, it's like pneumonia. You either have the kind you rest at home and get over, or you have the kind that puts you in the hospital. It just depends on how bad.
02/14/2011
Contributor: Pleasure Piratess Pleasure Piratess
The terms are not interchangeable, but a person with mental illness may or may not be disabled due to the illness.
02/14/2011
Contributor: Owl Identified Owl Identified
Quote:
Originally posted by Pleasure Piratess
The terms are not interchangeable, but a person with mental illness may or may not be disabled due to the illness.
Exactly. A person with schizophrenia may not be capable of certain cognitive processes, of holding down a job, dressing and cleaning themselves, etc. To me, this is a disability. Depression and other mental illness can also be debilitating, although they don't necessarily have to be. I think the distinction many people are making is arbitrary; if it impairs your ability to perform basic daily activities, that seems like a disability to me.
02/14/2011
Contributor: PussyGalore PussyGalore
Quote:
Originally posted by Owl Identified
Exactly. A person with schizophrenia may not be capable of certain cognitive processes, of holding down a job, dressing and cleaning themselves, etc. To me, this is a disability. Depression and other mental illness can also be debilitating, although ... more
I don't think it's arbitrary at all. The degree of disability is extremely important in this discussion.

Making a blanket statement that mental disability and mental illness are one and the same is a sharp stick in the eye to the millions of people who manage their specific brand of disorder with medications and function quite well in society. Even a schizophrenic's life can be drastically changed by a handful of well prescribed medications.
02/14/2011
Contributor: Naughty Student Naughty Student
Quote:
Originally posted by Owl Identified
Exactly. A person with schizophrenia may not be capable of certain cognitive processes, of holding down a job, dressing and cleaning themselves, etc. To me, this is a disability. Depression and other mental illness can also be debilitating, although ... more
Thats exactly what I was thinking.

Yes certain people suffer from certain types of mental illness's but I wouldn't call them all generally as disabling the individual.

When I read the options I just kept wondering what was implied by disability, like social disability? I agree with your definition of it.
02/15/2011
Contributor: Alyxx Alyxx
Being "mentally ill" is not the same as "mentally disabled". Those with mental illnesses are people with illnesses such as depression, bipolar depression, schizophrenia, eating disorders,and OCD. "Mentally disabled" tends to refer to people with developmental disabilities, such as mental retardation (yes that is still the official, technical term) and dementia. Some conditions tend to fall in between, like autism (a large percentage of people with autism also have comorbid mental disabilities such as MR). Not to say that mental illnesses can be disabling, in some cases many can be. But they are not one in the same.
02/15/2011
Contributor: RedGoddess RedGoddess
Quote:
Originally posted by PussyGalore
Um, when did this happen? The two are completely different, in my book. Mentally disabled means you have lower learning capacity than the average person. Mentally ill encompasses so many different emotional and mood disorders, but most of the people ... more
I agree- huge differences between the two! two different contrexts..
03/12/2011
Contributor: Owl Identified Owl Identified
Quote:
Originally posted by PussyGalore
I don't think it's arbitrary at all. The degree of disability is extremely important in this discussion.

Making a blanket statement that mental disability and mental illness are one and the same is a sharp stick in the eye to the ... more
I agree with you, so I'm not sure why you are taking issues with my use of the term "arbitrary". I specify that depression and mental illness CAN be debilitating - not that they must necessarily be. I also state that IF your mental illness impairs your ability to perform basic daily activities THEN yes, it is a disability. The federal government of the United States and its corresponding social services departments that provide assistance for those with disabilities (rental assistance, health care, etc.) happen to agree with me. Mental illness qualifies you for disability benefits if you can demonstrate that it has prevented you from getting a job and things of that nature.

Does this mean that you have to identify with this classification? Absolutely not. Does it also mean that if you have a mental illness that it MUST interfere with your functionality? No, absolutely not, for all the reasons that you mentioned. But can it? Yes, it most certainly can, and a mental disability is just as a real as a physical one.
03/14/2011
Contributor: Owl Identified Owl Identified
Quote:
Originally posted by Alyxx
Being "mentally ill" is not the same as "mentally disabled". Those with mental illnesses are people with illnesses such as depression, bipolar depression, schizophrenia, eating disorders,and OCD. "Mentally disabled" ... more
You are right that they are not the same - but depending on the severity of the mental illness they can both manifest in almost identical ways and impair functioning in comparable ways. I understand why people are loathe to make the comparison, but in reality there is a tremendous amount of overlap and "mental health disability" and "developmental/intelle ctual disability" are actually not always neatly separable.
03/14/2011
Contributor: TumorCrunch TumorCrunch
Quote:
Originally posted by Mistress M.
So, the idea of being "mentally ill" has become mentally disabled. Do you believe that people who are mentally ill are just as disabled as someone with a physical disability?
it depends on the situation. i'm very mentally ill, and at times it is a huge disability for me...it keeps me from getting the most out of life in the worst way, but it is not the same as a physically debilitating ailment. i feel worse for a person born with cerable palsy than someone with schizophrenia. probably a huge mistake on my part, cuz i know how horrible it can make a person. but i can't help it..idk...
03/15/2011
Contributor: TumorCrunch TumorCrunch
Quote:
Originally posted by Mistress M.
So, the idea of being "mentally ill" has become mentally disabled. Do you believe that people who are mentally ill are just as disabled as someone with a physical disability?
it depends on the situation. i'm very mentally ill, and at times it is a huge disability for me...it keeps me from getting the most out of life in the worst way, but it is not the same as a physically debilitating ailment. i feel worse for a person born with cerable palsy than someone with schizophrenia. probably a huge mistake on my part, cuz i know how horrible it can make a person. but i can't help it..idk...
03/15/2011
Contributor: VanillaFreeSex VanillaFreeSex
I assumed you were referring to those with pyschiatric conditions?
Yes, disabled. and just like physically disabled, it is to varying degrees from person to person. and can also consist of periods of flare ups, and times of stability (when we are lucky)

if someone doesn't realize this is a disability (which I know it's hard to understand if you haven't dealt with it), do some research, spend some time with someone who battles these illnesses.
03/24/2011
Contributor: VanillaFreeSex VanillaFreeSex
Quote:
Originally posted by TumorCrunch
it depends on the situation. i'm very mentally ill, and at times it is a huge disability for me...it keeps me from getting the most out of life in the worst way, but it is not the same as a physically debilitating ailment. i feel worse for a ... more
I hope you learn to accept your illness as an illness. and not discount it. Don't compare yourself to others unless it is an exercise in being grateful. Someone with a physical disability may be able to let it interfere with there life less then some psychiatric problems.
03/24/2011
Contributor: Kaltir Kaltir
I wouldn't say everyone with a mental illness is disabled, but some are. I have a huge anxiety problem, and PTSD, and WANT to work. I actually love to work, and busted my ass for it when I could. But it got so bad that I've become prone to passing out without warning, and have done so around huge machinery. So yes, it is a disability, though I actually hate to admit it. I still want to work, and have tried medication after medication to keep these attacks from happening, but it's still gotten worse and none of them work. It's hard to go out at all, even for a half hour of grocery shopping. Please people, don't judge what you don't understand.
03/24/2011
Contributor: Eden C. Eden C.
Mental illness and mental disability are two separate things to me. Mental illness that results in dementia and developmental disabilities (e.g. autism) can be viewed as disabilities. I have been somewhat "disabled" during major depressive episodes, but it's definitely not a disability on the same level as physical disabilities.
03/24/2011
Contributor: REDRUM REDRUM
My mother is mentally ill(Bipolar), but she is not mentally disabled. Those are very two different things. There are certain mental illnesses that can be disabling, but that does not make them incapable of doing anything at all. You can be diagnosed with a mental illness and still be able to function highly in everyday life. Many people don't even notice my mother is bipolar unless she takes her medication in front of them, or tells them. I have even been considered bipolar, but have not been diagnosed.
People with mental disorders just have a different thought process and way of thinking about things. It does not make them incapable.

So I think the situation is not entirely black and white.
03/24/2011
Contributor: VanillaFreeSex VanillaFreeSex
Quote:
Originally posted by PussyGalore
I have yet to meet an Asperger's 'patient' who isn't borderline genius and everyone I know with depression is incredibly intelligent, and sensitive.

I so hate it when terms get convoluted and it's becoming increasingly ... more
now that I think of it, when I looked up one of my DSMV codes from a past doctor, it did come up as a category that included mentally disabled. impaired, etc. (and I was an honors student) they don't know what they are doing. and are they ever going to figure out the concept of autism spectrum? and whether or not to include spd....

this thread got me on my soap box! I enjoy a good rant, a good debate.
03/24/2011
Contributor: Eden C. Eden C.
Quote:
Originally posted by PussyGalore
I have yet to meet an Asperger's 'patient' who isn't borderline genius and everyone I know with depression is incredibly intelligent, and sensitive.

I so hate it when terms get convoluted and it's becoming increasingly ... more
I think the Asperger's mind is unique and has a definite place in society. Granted, I know some who are more genius than others.

I just know I cannot function academically in a major depression.
03/24/2011
Contributor: Linga Linga
My 7 year old son has Aspergers and is extremely intelligent. He is in no way "disabled" I don't even class my son as "metally ill".
He learns differently then most children and has trouble with social interaction. To have someone with these kinds of differences labelled as Mentally Disabled or even Mentally Ill is horribly offensive to me.
03/24/2011
Contributor: link82 link82
It depends on the illness and various treatments/ medications for that illness.
05/07/2011
Contributor: Kake aka PoeticErotica Kake aka PoeticErotica
Quote:
Originally posted by PussyGalore
Um, when did this happen? The two are completely different, in my book. Mentally disabled means you have lower learning capacity than the average person. Mentally ill encompasses so many different emotional and mood disorders, but most of the people ... more
That's always been my understanding. People with mental illnesses or disorders (whichever is your preferred nomenclature) can GET disability and be disabled in the sense that their functioning in regular, everyday society is affected, often to the extent that they can seek gvt assistance, as I just mentioned but that is NOT the same as being mentally disabled (which as PussyGalore said, is generally reserved for those whose IQs and capacity to learn are lower than a set level).
05/20/2011
Contributor: Kake aka PoeticErotica Kake aka PoeticErotica
Quote:
Originally posted by Linga
My 7 year old son has Aspergers and is extremely intelligent. He is in no way "disabled" I don't even class my son as "metally ill".
He learns differently then most children and has trouble with social interaction. To have ... more
As someone w/ worst-case scenario ADD and a processing disorder I understand how you feel.
05/20/2011
Contributor: Kake aka PoeticErotica Kake aka PoeticErotica
Quote:
Originally posted by link82
It depends on the illness and various treatments/ medications for that illness.
It also depends on the individual - how they respond to those meds/treatments, how compliant they are w/ meds & treatments, and so on and so forth. I think this is all a moot point because in each and every case it is dependent on the individual person, not on the label of the illness(es) or disorder(s) they may have.
05/20/2011