Question by Electro-Shock Blues: Do you find a mental health pattern forming here?
Just through my experience, there seems to be some sort of “mental illness trend” establishing itself quite thoroughly..
I think that not only some people are incredibly willing to accept that they have a mental illness, but I also find that some people actually WANT one (Just by personal observation, I have found this most prominent in teenagers).
Is mental illness becoming a “fad”, especially in the teenage generation?
And would this “fad” partially be the reason behind so many over-diagnoses and self-diagnoses?
I’m not trying to accuse anyone of being over-dramatic attention seekers. Honestly, if attention is what they’re seeking, I wouldn’t be surprised. With today’s technology isolating so many individuals from the physical world around them, it would be logical to figure that people do not know how to react well with others in person, therefore, they feel that lack of attention that they need.
I do not think it is fair that so many people go running to psychiatrists and accepting the pills they are prescribed. I do not think it is fair to the people who do not need the medicines, and I do not think it is fair to the people that really do have a mental disorder.
Do they even know what the pills are?! I mean, anyone can tell you the name and what it is SUPPOSED to do for you, but what exactly is put into these things?

I am asking this only because that, as a 16 year old teenager who’s been under a lot of stress these past few years, I do not think it is fair that I have been diagnosed so early and so quickly.
Bipolar. The name sticks. Call it denial, but I am unwilling to accept that I truly have any sort of disorder until I am living on my own with a stable career and place to call mine. If I have all of these things going for me, and yet I am still having trouble mentally, THEN I will consider the idea of a mental illness.
Whether or not I actually have it is irrelevent. My point is, so many young people are being diagnosed with this or that, and I just don’t believe that even 3/4 of these assumptions are true!
Bottom line -
WHY DOES THIS SOUND ATTRACTIVE TO THEM?
Do they not realize that once their sanity is truly questioned, a lot of what they think and say will be questioned as well?
As long as people remember that you have a mental disorder, generally speaking, they will always in the back of their mind wonder if your sanity is up to par.
You can claim your sanity all you want, but there’s still too much stigma and question in the world for anyone to really believe you.
Does anyone else think this is wrong?

I’m not blaming anyone for these things, but just throwing this out there:
It seems like mental illness has soared within this past decade or so, like an epidemic. Can it all honestly be true?

Best answer:

Answer by pretty in pink
I think some people really have a chemical mental illness, a lot of people have residual issues to deal with from childhood, and a good number of people would prefer the label “mental illness” so they do not have to take responsibility for their thoughts or actions.

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