Mental Illness: Dehumanization and Stigma

Mental illness.

 When you hear the word, does your mind automatically rush into a series of correlated words? Psychotic. Different. Weird. Odd. Standing out. Isolated. Lonely. Sad. Crazy. Problematic. Words that, unfortunately, hold so much power and authority over those who do actually suffer. In class, we've received a profound taste of mental illness when we interconnected the subject with the functioning of our American Legal System, as well. Andrea Yates, the story behind a mother who had been diagnosed with Post Partum Psychosis, had openly admitted to being the one held responsible for the death of all five of her children after a continous battle with the illness, itself. Sure, it was clear that there was some obvious rejection that was generated from other factors that made me truly think about the contrast between physical and mental illness. Typically, when something is broken or physically impaired, we are immediately taken to professional medical care to make sure all is well and further prevent physical damage to the human body. However, when we feel mentally "broken" and are unable to think or process healthy thoughts, not much attention or focus is brought on. Lack of knowing what to do, how to handle mental distortion, and how to treat it best is no longer surprising. And I get it. It's a complex subject. Often times, it takes one to truly understand mental illness after they have been faced it themselves or are close to someone that has or is. It's tough to genuinely understand what goes on inside the mind of someone with a mental disorder which is why it is important to always keep an honest mind. Let go of the labels. Let go of the stereotypes. Let go of the ignorance. Let go of ignorance and prejudice behind the media that often times is responsible for the continuation of this harmful stigma.

 Andrea Yates, for example, is the exceptional example for this topic. Going from a happy and healthy mother of a loving and growing family of five to drowning her own children has made anyone who knows the story, mind-blown and in disgust of such a morally inhumane act. I understand as to why would have opposing perspectives based on the way this case was analyzed and concluded. I understand as to why some would look at the way she ended up not having to serve lifetime in jail and look at it in horrid. I understand the wrong, the sad, and how one would believe the our justice system was wrongful in allowing for Yates not to face much punishment for such a gruesome and "unreasonable" crime. I mean, seriously, killing your own children? Then again, mental disorder is nothing new to me. I understand Yates in the same level of knowing what it's like to be clouded by such distorted thoughts and behaviors. I understand the chains that restricted her from being herself again. The Andrea Yates that many got to know, from a television screen or media source, was not the person you thought it was. It was her disorder. It was her disease. That is mental illness. It is never a label or way of categorizing someone, it really truly is a serious illness that diminishes and destructs identity and makes it's way everywhere. It interferes with the people we love and cherish the most. It interferes with our jobs and responsibilities. It interferes with our passions and ambitions. It does not only interfere with our way of thinking but it literally obstructs us from running wholesome and healthy lives.

 To dehumanize and look down at Yates for what she committed is easy but to understand and look at it from a different perspective is often hard. Yates' disorder did not make her any less of a person nor did it serve as an excuse to destroy her humanity and forget the fact that, yes, she was human too. She was devastatingly sick, whether it was visually evident or not, she had distorted thoughts, perceptions, and beliefs because of her illness. Open your mind and learn to look at things with retrospect rather than having tunnel-vision, it does much more good than harm and enhances the way our generation thinks at a much more pro-found and open way. Before judging or making assumptions based on what you see from the outside, educate yourself and learn about what may possibly go wrong on the inside.