What Makes Something a Mental Health Issue as Opposed to a Regular Health Issue That Involves the Brain?
Question by Lightningbug: What makes something a mental health issue as opposed to a regular health issue that involves the brain?
For instance, epilepsy is not considered a “mental health” problem even though it’s something that’s happening in the brain. Schizophrenia has to do with brain chemicals, but it’s a mental health issue.
Best answer:
Answer by ~~Birdy~~
VERY INTERESTING QUESTION!
I have wondered the same thing as my bipolar is clearly a medical issue and I respond well and quickly to medication. “Therapy” would do me absolutely no good since the problem is clearly chemical. Not only that, but the mood stabilizer I take is also used to treat epilepsy as well (and was originally designed to treat it)
So… why the distinction between the two, since they both involve the brain? Oh, and MRIs of Schizophrenic patients DO show abnormalities, so I don’t understand why it’s not considered a brain disease, rather than a mental disorder.
Again, very interesting question and one I have been meaning to ask myself because of the stigma of mental illness. Why not epilepsy too? Some forms of epilepsy include seizures that disorient the individual (no convulsions, just staring into space) and cause mood changes as well. There are so many different types of seizures, yet they are not considered a mental illness.
Add your own answer in the comments!
Quiet Riot (Mental Health) – 80`s head banging