Psychology

More than anything else in the world, human hold their selves as the most pivotal part of their lives. They are very much concerned as to how other people view them and as to how they present their selves in front of other people. At the center of their lives, everything else has something to do with them. It is for this reason that most people throw away the idea of going beyond the recognized boundaries of social norms and behaviors set by society. If they move away from their status quo, they feel the horror that people may consider them as the inferior part of society as to which their actions are to that of below or above normal, or thus, abnormal.  People who may act likewise are stereotypically seen as people with mental disordersillnessesimbalances. In which whatever word one may put it, such individuals are nonetheless looked down and ostracized by the society.

It is for this reason that this article takes into consideration the usefulness of the argument presented by Thomas Szasz (1960116) that the phenomena now called mental illnesses be removed from the category of illness and that they be regarded as the expressions of mans struggle with the problem of how he should live.  This paper nonetheless looks at the factors by which it can help people who are stereotypically seen as mental illness patients as well as the people around them cope up with the sufferings they are faced with. The paper specifically looks at the advantages and disadvantages experienced by people with eating disorders because of the label of mental illness attached to them.
Mental illnesses are considered a broad spectrum of mental and emotional conditions that impairs an individual from performing everyday activities and thus considered an inefficient functioning individual. Mental disorders are categorized into groups such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders as well as schizophrenia disorders and even eating disorders (Pearson, 2009).

Eating disorder thus comes into the category of mental illness and may either come into action as overeating or almost not eating at all. This may come as anorexia nervosa or becoming too thin for the reason of not eating so much or not eating at all because they think that they are too fat or bulimia nervosa that takes place when one does eat but induces vomiting after. It basically falls under a mental disorder because it concerns ones mental disturbance and preoccupation of thoughts of gaining so much weight and thus, affecting their figure and their social acceptance.

Eating disorders can be traced down to external factors such as depression, alcoholism and drug abuse. Thus, this may also stem from psychological factors known as the spotlight effect and illusion of transparency.

According to Santrock (2003), spotlight effect is   when people seem to be concerned with the impression we make others, we tend to believe that others are paying more attention to us than they are. On the other hand illusion of transparency is when we tend to believe that our emotions are more obvious than they are.

So rather than saying that this kind of situation undertaken by some individuals can be considered as an illness, it is most likely to be considered as a state of how youngsters adopt to their environment and the call of present fads and what the society dictates is the more presentable way of looking physically. How can something that has rooted from physical factors considered an illness when in fact the individual is physically and psychologically conscious of hisher decision to engage in such kind of behavior towards eating.

Conformed to the medical models claim that eating disorders as categorized under mental illness are just by any way like any other illnessdisease that deserves help and understanding, makes it helpful for people who suffer from this condition as well as their family. It provides them with a means by which the condition can be explained as well as providing their families away to understand their situation. Moreover, resources from health and welfare services as well as treatments from trained professionals become an option for them. They are strengthened by the thought there is hope for one through further research.

For what its worth, we owe the medical society the perspective of how to view the condition undertaken by the people who suffer from mood disorders, anxiety disorders as well as schizophrenia disorders and eating disorders. For the longest time, we have accepted the claims of the medical world that people who act abnormal or with deviance from social norms are said to be experiencing some sort of illness or more specifically a mental illness

However, though medical models offer a way of viewing things, they also create a false image of what is the real situation among people who suffer from the so-called mental illness. It is for this circumstance that Szazs claims become a lot more accepted in a philosophical and social perspective. Thus it becomes a lot more helpful for the people who are experiencing the so-called mental illness as well as for their family.

Even if the medical model gives a name to such conditions there is not a thorough understanding of what mental illnesses are. Since the medical society has given the idea that just like any other diseaseillness and that there cure through the help from medical professionals, they likewise give the possibility of leaving the person cured or untreated. Instead of creating help and sympathy they leave people with fear and misunderstanding.

Being aware of this, there are greater heights of accepting the possibility of the argument presented by Thomas Szasz which claims that mental disorders should be taken into account as a mans own expression for living rather than stereotyping it to an illness.

For many, there is not a thorough understanding of what mental illnesses are. They are conformed to societys claim that such as any physical and physiological disorders, mental illnesses are likewise confined to the possibility of either being cured or being left untreated. People are left with fear and misunderstanding of the situation faced by people with mental disorders.

Because of the mental identity medical models have inflicted on people, they now view people who suffer from mental disorders as an inferior part of society. They are only focused to the label that these people are undergoing a mental disturbance and they not are genuinely concerned about the real problem faced by these individuals. They see a person incapacitated by hisher condition and not a person that needs help, support and understanding. They are seen as damaged individuals and not as people that can still be repaired into a full person once more.

Such branding and stigmatizing increases ones self-pity and consequently decreasing his self-esteem.People who are victimized by judgments and denouncing of their condition as an illness become a lot more isolated with fear and shame. It affects how they view themselves and how they feel towards other people.

Life has never been easy for any one. Even the socially accepted normal individuals have their own share of difficulty. One can only imagine how life is for a person that falls under the category of a mentally incapacitated individual. Not only do they have to give out much effort on managing their condition but they also need to cope with the effects that it causes the different aspects of their lives and most importantly, the effects that it brings to the people around them.

Because of the branding given to individuals who suffer from eating disorders, they develop a further sense of not being accepted in society. Even if the thought that they want to change comes into their mind, it no longer becomes a motivation to mend their ways since they become emotionally tortured by the earlier judgments of others that they are individuals who suffer from some kind of disorder or peculiarity.

People who  suffer from such kind of conditions cope up with everyday stress and the idea that something is wrong with them as dictated by society. They find difficulty in finding support and connecting with others as well as working out their relationship with others.

Not everyone can accept people who are labeled with mental illnesses, even their own family. There are even instances when they would hide their children from the viewing eyes of the public because of their fear that others will make fun of their children or give their family shame. However, as the years pass by, they become more open to the need of being part of the society and avail their rights to full education. This is also where the need and the call for other people for their acceptance begins.

Clearly, a persons worth is not measured by hisher physical or mental capabilities alone. People with disorders or those who deviates from the standard norm set by hisher environment should not and should never be viewed as someone who is less of a person. Heshe may have hisher own set of differences that distinctly sets himher apart from others, but such differences are also the very basis why they are considered unique.

Henceforth, the idea presented by Thomas Szasz becomes a lot more accepted and helpful to people with medical imbalances or people who deviate from the socially accepted norm. This becomes a resort for them to have a better and more accepted explanation for their condition. Rather than decreasing their self-esteem,  Szasz idea actually increases their morale and thus have their selves considered as a  misunderstood individual than a mentally ill person.