Not sure where to put this, but sociologists believe that mental illness is a social construct, or “making up people” because mental illness is simply a deviance from normal behaviour (according to their argument). So, sociologists believe that mental illness is not just coming from the brain. I just wrote an entire essay on this and it’s fascinating that there are alternate explanations to why the society labels us with stigmatization. It’s like how to the mentally ill our existence isn’t a problem, but to the able-bodied, it is.
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Some people think that schizophrenia is an biological advantage too bad it is seen as disorder rather than a biological advantage ^^
True, but keep in mind that’s just one school of thought, though.
Mental illness is a very real thing, and how it’s addressed and treated varies across the globe.
Things like culture, history, and societal norms all play a part in the trajectory of the illness.
Cultural beliefs, for example, is huge with schizophrenia:
For some, it manifests as possession or spiritual warfare. For others, it’s a real-life role as Jason Bourne or the central star in a television show.
Treatments are also varied; herbs, counseling from a shamanic elder, antipsychotics, therapy… It’s really all dependent on culture.
Fascinating stuff, really.
Personally, I prefer the Westernized version of treatment. However, there’s still plenty of room for improvement.
Super-interested in your paper, @anon10648258 
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This is true.
Cultures that practice Shamanism, for example, would actually have a role built-in to their society for those who display characteristics of SZ.
Perhaps that’s what’s lacking in modern society: a “functional” role ascribed by society for those of us with psychotic afflictions.
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You study sociology too, right? Yes, it’s just one school of thought. I wonder what symbolic interactionist view on mental illness is like. I’ve been more leaning towards symbolic interactionism than other schools. I have also heard that Aboriginal people with psychosis tend to go to sweat lodges often to connect with their ancestors and heal from assimilation. I personally think Western treatment of mental illness is great, but seeking help from tradition isn’t bad either. It seems to help some people with mental illness, and it isn’t bad to connect with their cultures.
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Oh also- my paper is on sociology and its relation to health, autism, and blindness (disability) and it is a 800 word essay. I can post it here after getting it marked.
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The fascinating thing is that certain cultures have multiple words for psychosis, versus say… the English language, which basically only has one.
Symbolic Interactionism is super-interesting, and thanks for sharing that tid-bit about the Aboriginal people-- it must be exhausting trying to assimilate to Australian culture while also keeping your indigenous roots.
I agree with you, connecting with culture could very well ease the tension triangle of:
A) Having a mental illness
B) Assimilation into society as a whole
C) The healthiest outcome possible
It might be difficult to pull off in the United States though, as we’re a melting pot of cultural beliefs. The overarching model here seems to be: “no matter your background, working hard is the path to success.”
Are there any ancient cultural beliefs in South Korea that lend themselves to understanding and “making room” for mental illness?
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That would be great!
Wishing you a high grade
I very much agree even if in a Western context it would mean to lean on aspects of so-called anttipsychiatry.
I’m guessing you used Goffman’s Asylums in your essay? Fascinating stuff.
In what way is it a advantage? Dont understand
I’m so glad you’re going to post your paper. I’m very interested in reading it
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I just read it.
Schizophrenia isnt that bad. Whats happening to a schizophrenia might not be just disadvantage some of what schizophrenics experiences might be advantages.
I see some with a lot of voices, I dont know the advantage for those dough.
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Its definitely bio-chemical. I know that epilepsy can cause issues related to bipolar and schizophrenia. This is because pre-frontal epileptic synaptic changes increase hyper-sensitivity to light, noise, and information. Hallucinations are like if you perceive the static on a tv screen-or confusing sounds–but at an enhanced level. The brain is capable of making patterns out of disinformation or chaos. The universe is literally life out of chaos/we come from it–naturally it is innate to find chaos within the core of our humanity, but a part of ascension and evolution is learning to be human overcoming the primal nature of chaos. So being religious, non-religious you still have a duty to your higher self to define who you want to be–and who you truly are. I personally want to be a good person, be non-violent, not conform or be conditioned but also to be able to acclimate to social standards and fit in with others.
Society can judge anyone–attach a label to a personality or behaviors it is not just people with the chemical issue of schizophrenia or “genetic” predispositions of eccentricity/stress/or random mutations related to the actual biology of what schizophrenia is–but we can adapt and learn to live with our situations, regardless of how doomed we feel at first- intervention can be essential but not always has to be a certain way. Open-dialogue helped many, the ability to speak or think freely without stigma. Some people do advance in life after medication or being on anti-psychotics. I have successfully reduced mine and have been over a year without taking anti psychotics or any medication symptom free.
But for serious episodes/people who are unreachable—that measure has to be met. So it is important to have both sociological perspective and the scientific perspective when you encounter someone with schizophrenia because humans are unpredictable. No you can’t prevent every mass shooting, or violent eruption–often caused by the most neglected and vulnerable of those with mental illness, but you can be a solution and try and prevent those things from happening by listening learning and teaching others what you know.
I think medication is extremely helpful in maintaining a sense of normalcy-- it keeps me grounded and prevents me from being devious or acting out of social norms. So I guess in a sense they are right its a form of social or population conditioning—not necessarily control but a way to condition and domesticate people who do not necessarily fall into social norms. But also it can prevent things from being too radicalized–too outside the mainstream. It may be used as a tool to mold the socially unfit to conform. But I actually conformed quite well before I was labelled a schizophrenic. I was a straight a student, always followed the rules. So did psychiatry’s system or diagnostic ideals really benefit me in the long-run or short-term? Its moreso my own personal journey to recovery that started with recognizing that I needed help from the voices/hallucinations but the whole medication issue further worsened my illness. Being forced medication, or it felt like it. It made me less likely to take it in the future. I was broken down in order to comply; which left lasting scars.
Agree wholeheartedly.
Schizophrenia is ultimately a biological disorder shaped by societal influences.
To disregard one would do a great disservice to the person experiencing it.
Medication should be a cornerstone to treatment, however, we should not neglect the shaping societal forces that ultimately define our delusions or add to our paranoia or fuel voices and hallucinations.
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It is definitely hard to have schizophrenia. It has been difficult for many of us right now the most/so must find compassion for each other and ourselves. Like, yes we all do have a common symptom and so we should be more supportive of each other–during the pandemic, with all the division in the world, we can find a common thread of uplifting ourselves and each other not tearing others down or ourselves. I believe everyone has a special purpose–those with disabilities are blessed because they are humans, and get to be a part of humanity, so those with autism, down syndrome, schizophrenia, bipolar, adhd, those are all labels–but more-so is the interactions we have with our world and how to find ourselves amidst the challenges of growing up being different than others.
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Perhaps not lean on aspects of anti-psychiatry (as it is vehemently against medical intervention), but rather, in keeping with medication regimens, also encompass different modalities based on ancient cultural beliefs and community intergration.
I would be all for that.
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Very good thread! Insight abounds.
It bring out thoughts of cultures that do have an integration of folk faith and mental illness.
Drawing comparisons to Native American cultures and west African vodun. Both practice spiritual integration of what western medicine would consider mentally ill.
Coming from the MI perspective, while potentially strengthening delusions, the sufferer is given a place to where they can be taught from a good age to use, what they may consider, their gifts. All while being accepted by the community, at least in part, if not actively Sekt out for help.
Makes me wonder how much happier some of us would be had we had that as an option.
Maybe I would be happy being a keeper of shrines, creator of poultices, helper of the grieving. Quiet life on the out skirts.
The idea of automatically discrediting and portrayment of the mentally ill in the United States I find was a reaction to the spiritualism movements in the mid to late 1800’s. Mediums became the norm and sought after.
Many fraudulent scam artists, and many actual sufferers of voices, was accepted by a large amount of the community.
To the dismay of the medical community, and religious standard, the shift moved into demonization and commission to newly opening state wards.
Lest we aren’t living in those times at those places.
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Spiritual integration is a great way of phrasing it, @Ooorgle.
We, in a Western perspective, have shifted away from this so-called integration.
Whether it be integration professionally, or simply as members of the community-- there is little room to be eeked out for those who experience mental illness.
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The more complex a society, the more disabling the effects of severe mental illness will be.
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