Equality: Mental Illness and Physical Illness

Postby bluemoon27 » Sun Apr 10, 2016 11:34 am

This might seem really stupid to post about but I'm feeling really conflicted with some things happening in my school. Let me explain the situation.

I am a 14 year old boy who has been through hell. I have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bi-Polar Disorder (BPD), Severe Depression, Unsuppressed Depression Disorder (UDD), Unsuppressed Anxiety Disorder (UAD), Bulimia, and have been deemed mentally unstable. That being said I have to see a therapist once a week and most of the time the appointments are during school. So sometimes I end up missing whole day of school because of the therapy. Also my mother can tell my moods very well, so she knows exactly when I'm in a depressive mood. Now, sometimes she knows when it's super bad and she'll let me stay home for that day because she knows if something goes wrong at school I'll end up doing something really stupid during the night (I have a severe history of Self Harm), or if I already have a panic attack during the night then she'll keep me home and Yeah. Anyway, the school faculty was starting to get pissed because I was missing like 2 or 3 days a month because of this, so now I can't stay home whenever my brain is a mess.

This situation strikes up a very big question. Should mental illness be treated like a physical illness such as influenza or pink eye?

Re: Equality: Mental Illness and Physical Illness

Postby Sniffmyfeet » Sun Apr 10, 2016 12:33 pm

First of all I would like to thank you for trusting us so much that you're willing to share this with us. It takes an enormous amount of courage to tell people about your mental illnesses.

There isn't a clear divide between mental and physical. Psychiatrists can prescribe medicines, which surely act in a physical way, to treat mental illnesses. The other way round, physical pain also affects us mentally.

You mentioned you have a history of self-harm. This is (one example of) where your mental health affects your physical health.

We all know that school is there to teach you some things: languages, history, biology, to name a few courses. School also prepares us for life in society as responsible citizens. However, what should be the school's number one priority, is the well-being of its students.

I think your mother is right when she keeps you home during a depression or after a panic attack. What now needs to be done is to make the school aware of the seriousness of your mental condition. Perhaps there is a teacher you trust or a mentor or some such person who is willing to help you.

It would be a good idea to have your therapist write a letter in which your condition is explained and in which is described how the school should support you.
bondage /'bɒndɪdʒ/ noun & verb. ME.
A The condition of being bound or tied; fig. subjection to authority, constraining force, or obligation. LME.
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spec. Sadomasochism involving binding, handcuffing, etc. M20.

(SOED, 6th ed.)

Re: Equality: Mental Illness and Physical Illness

Postby drawscore » Mon Apr 11, 2016 3:37 am

Reading your descriptions cannot possibly be anywhere close to actually experiencing them. That being said, it occurs to me, that you need a constant calming influence in your life, such as a service animal. From what I have seen and read, they can be very helpful. Talk to your therapist about it. He/she would be in the best position to know if you would benefit from having a service animal. There are organizations that provide them at minimal, or no cost.

Hope this helps

Drawscore

Re: Equality: Mental Illness and Physical Illness

Postby bluemoon27 » Mon Apr 11, 2016 2:14 pm

See this is also the debate have to do in my English class soooo this interesting
Hell yeh batman. Hell yeh.