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Read Alison's story.
As Alison's story indicates, no cure exists for schizophrenia. Given this fact, and keeping in mind the social consequences of being labeled "mentally ill", is the benefit of the label "schizophrenia" worth the cost to the individual? (see page 616 of Gray for more information on labeling).
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This story is pretty deprssing. I think in a way that it was good for the first docter to not try and diagnons her, but on the other hand was this out of lack of information. I think, however, that the importance of a diagnosis is to try and figure out the treatment that works best for someone. I have read a lot recently about labelling, and it can be very detriental to the individual, especially if their already sick. I have a friend who is hlping doing research on finding better drug treatments for bipolar disorder. I'll see if I can get her to give me some information on these issues.

This is a very sad and depressing story, It's is especially sad that this diesease has no cure. I agree with Angela how she said that the doctordid not diagnois her, but I think that if the doctor would of diagnoised hger and see what was wrong with her in the first place maybe she would not have gone through all these problems on trying to figure out what was really wrong with her.

I think that by putting the label mentally ill on someone will make their self esteem level go remarkably down. It can be very harmful. One idea that Gray suggested was to put a label on the disease not the peron itself. For example a person who has schizophrenia NOT A SCHIZOPHERINIC OR A PERSON WHO SUFFERS from alcoholism not an alcohol. This although at first may sound like the same thing, it's not. If younreally think about it. The person wll feel better about themselves.

Hi guys, I am not sure if this is due on friday or today I think Friday do we have class on Friday?

Hmm...this is the first time I"ve ever read a passage from a person who is schizopherinic. To say that this story is depressing is a grave understatement, since I'm sure none of us (or hopfully none of us) will ever experience the type of pain and suffering she must be going through. Although I agree with Angela that it was good that the first doctor didn't diagnose her (since he/she didn't know what the problem was), I don't think the doctor had any right to just put her on medication. The brain is a very sensitive organ, and by disrupting through medication, especially if she wasn't diagnosed, is very irresponsible. It seems like Alison will have to stay on some sort of medication, whether or not its a placebo effect can be disputed, but if it helps, then it is worth it.By the way, most literature I've read about schizophrenia has been from books or the notional geographic, so a story told be a person who has schizophrenia, really gives you a point of view on how deabilitating it really is.

Definately, I liked that too. It does seem very rare to read about a mental disease from the sufferers point of view. I also thout that it was interesting that alison was given more "natural" treatments. I think the social consequence of being labelle dmentally ill can be very grave. If anyone finds out they may see you as a different person. But the public in general seems to know more know than before and understand that people who are getting treatment for their illness are usually just as normal (or more J) as non mentally ill people .

By the way Rubina the summary is due on Wednesday. Can you please post again here and on the other site. Thanks

As stated in the textbook and indicated here in this story, labeling can be very harmful indeed. It seemed that as the years went by, doctors couldn't help but look at her previous history of depression and suicidal tendencies. In doing so, they felt more compelled to give even more medication, of different kinds. This obviously had very detrimental effects on her, although once in awhile, drugs (such as niacin and vitamin C) did help. I'd also agree with Rubina (and the testbook) in that by stating that a person suffers from a disease, rather than indicating the person is "diseased" makes a difference in the person's self-identity. That is, by making the distinction that the person "is foremost a person" rather than summing a person up in a label of a disease allows the person to be seperate from the diesase in a sense (I hope that statement made sense ;)

I completely agree with that idea. It does seem that people always see a person first by their problems or differences. I think that when I was younger some people only saw me as a girl with glasses than a girl (of cours just being seen as a girl has a lot of problems J). I know I have problems dealing with people who can't talk very well, whether the person is mentally handicapped or had a stroke or even a young child. I know some of it is because for the first two cases it has more to do with the problem that causes the poor speech problems than the speech itself. People in general are uncomfortable with abnormalities whether mental or physical.

One other thing is that I was wondering how the person reacts to being labelled as mentally ill. Do they perpetuate their illness by acting ill or use it as an excuse. I don't think its very likely, but I do wonder if it happens.

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ICQ Chat Save file
Started on Tue Nov 17 23:21:36 1998

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<Angela> hey long time no see
<Angela>
<DaKim> hehe...yeah
<Angela> I can't beleive how idiodic the american goverment is!
<Angela>
<DaKim> are we talking about the Iraq situation?
<Angela> well thats another reason. but I ws refering to the monica lewinsky thing
<Angela>
<DaKim> oh...hehe..the tapes with Tripp right?
<Angela> yah, 1 they should never release evidence to the public like that
<DaKim> well actually...americans (and canadians) have this crzed obsession with "the freedom of speech" and freedom to know things that they otherwise shouldn't know, but you know how iti s....
<DaKim>
<DaKim>
<Angela> 2 the tapes yah but the tapes shouldn't even count as evidence.. they are illegal
<Angela>
<Angela> did you know Linda Tripp is facing charges b/c of them?
<Angela>
<DaKim> haha;.....ahh....Tripp...I odn't like the whole Lewinsky thing anyways...I don't think the american people shoulda dragged the President through the mud...regardless of whether he is guilty or not...especially when it costed them $40 million....
<DaKim>
<Angela> well actually it those republicans that seem to be dragging the whole thing on...I don't get it.. people camparing it to watergate.. its like apples and ibms man
<Angela>
<Angela>
<Angela> JFK
<Angela>
<DaKim> haha.....well if you think about it....lotsa presiendts had affairs...washington, JFK...but nothing was said...'cuz camericans back then had enough decency to not bring it to light...atlesat not until they died....
<DaKim>
<Angela> well they also didn't have a bitter woman around with her radio shack tape recorder willing to manipulate someone to get revenge!
<Angela>
<DaKim> True true...ah the americans...willl they ever learn? ;)
<Angela> well I hope not .. its too much fun making fun of them
<Angela>
<Angela> anyway
<Angela>
<DaKim> hehe...I agree....
<DaKim>
<Angela> as much fun as this conversation is..
<Angela>
<DaKim>
<Angela> which site did you like best?
<Angela>
<DaKim> I think the story written by the person with schizophrenia might be the best...I only had negative things to say about the test for agoraphobia.
<Angela> yah I noticed :)
<Angela>
<DaKim>
<DaKim> hehe...well, you didn't seem to like it that much either if I recall...
<DaKim>
<Angela> well it wasn't bad except I felt that it should emophasis that a person should actually see someone if they think they're experiance serious mental problems
<Angela>
<DaKim>
<Angela> yah but who realy reads those ;)
<Angela>
<DaKim> I guess...but to justify it, it did have one of those "do you agree" things before you do the test, stating that it should just be used as a guide....
<DaKim>
<DaKim> hehe...true..its legal mubojumbo needed to protect themselves from lawsuites.
<DaKim>
<Angela> BINGO
<Angela>
<DaKim>
<Angela>
<DaKim> You'd think agoaphobics would be too afraid to sue ;)
<Angela> :)
<Angela>
<DaKim> (bad joke)
<DaKim>
<DaKim> anyhoo...should we do the first one then?
<Angela> I think so
<Angela>
<DaKim> ok then....
<DaKim>
<Angela> Lets talk about Alison...
<Angela>
<Angela>
<Angela> I felt so bad for her
<Angela>
<Angela>
<DaKim> Same...she must have had a lot of courage to write that story...especially considering how hard it must be for her to conjure up those memories of constant near suicidal feelings
<Angela> Well they say that talking about it helps
<Angela>
<DaKim> true...but you gotta admit, regardless of what condition a person may have, bad memories are still bad memories...I guess talking about them just lets them out, so you can "let it all out"...
<DaKim>
<DaKim>
<DaKim>
<Angela> yah i do agree, I'm sure her name really isn't Alison :) but it is hard I'm sur ethat she probally was a bit nervous about people finding out that she had a problem like that.. even though that would their problem not hers
<Angela>
<DaKim> I agree....anonymity gives you a sense of security.....which I'm sure she more than deserves
<DaKim>
<Angela> di you know that rats are eaten as a delecacy in China?
<Angela>
<Angela> (its on Guiness)
<Angela>
<Angela> eeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
<Angela>
<Angela>
<DaKim> yeah...actually i learned about that in junior high...my friend went to china, and there was this restaurant called "the 3 squeeks" (translated from chinese of course)...and the first squeek I guess you could call was when the rats are first born...the 2nd squeek is when you dip them into the sauce(very acidic..like soy sauce...hurts).....and the 3rd is when...wel...you know..injest them ;)
<DaKim> hehehehe
<DaKim>
<Angela> eeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
<Angela>
<Angela> yucky
<Angela>
<DaKim> anyhooo....enough siedtrack ;)
<DaKim> )
<DaKim> I"m listening to music too (from the computer.....mp3)...
<DaKim>
<Angela> sorry I just heard the tv... I have my walkman on now so i wont be distracted again
<Angela>
<DaKim> sounds good
<Angela> what song?
<Angela>
<DaKim> "lullaby" by shawn mullen.....U2 is next with the "sweetest thing"
<Angela> oh contempory type stuff
<Angela>
<Angela> COUNTRY
<Angela>
<DaKim> no...I liesten to all types...excpet country....(with the exception of Shania)....
<Angela> I even hate Shania Twain
<Angela>
<DaKim> well....there are a couple of songs that I wouldn't consider country anyways...so its all good
<DaKim>
<Angela> yah I'm sure thats really why you like Shania ;)
<Angela>
<DaKim> hsaha...what are you implying anyways? grr....
<DaKim>
<DaKim> anyways
<Angela> anyway back to Alison
<Angela>
<Angela>
<DaKim>
<Angela> :-)
<Angela>
<Angela>
<DaKim> ;p
<DaKim>
<DaKim> ok...so what did you think about the first doctor who didn't diagnose her, but gave her medication anyways?
<Angela> well the more I thought about it the more it bothered me.. like did she really know what she was taking and what for.. like did he say this will help with a particular symptom.. you know what I'm saying
<Angela>
<Angela>
<Angela>
<DaKim> well..I'm sure they were "mainstream drugs" back then for treating "depression"..but you also got to realize that depression wasn't considered a serious problem up until recently...
<DaKim> go ahead
<Angela> ohohoho hold on a sec...k?
<Angela>
<DaKim> ok
<DaKim> take your time
<DaKim>
<DaKim>
<Angela> this site has a "fun way of talking about inventions and stuff
<Angela>
<DaKim> interesting site....hehe...
<DaKim>
<Angela> Its basically a seditive
<Angela>
<DaKim> sounds like it...reminds me of some other drugs ;)
<DaKim>
<Angela> oh for sure
<Angela>
<DaKim> anyways, I was also gonna add that the resaon why I think alison took the medication without question is that most often than not, we don't really ever question our doctors..we seem to have this mindset that Doctors are always right.
<DaKim>
<Angela> I've even donr that but I think we are starting to realize that second opions for serious stuff are so important
<Angela>
<DaKim> true....but you also have to realize that Alison I don't think atleast, was in a position to get 2nd opinions, she just wanted to be "cured" as quickly as possible...and frankly, I can't blame her
<DaKim>
<Angela> but I think then there was a responsiblity for the docter, whom i don't think was even a psychologist, to send her to someone more qualified to diagnose and help her
<Angela>
<DaKim> true...but in america...there really isn't a health plan..so if a doctor can get money instead of someone else...well....
<DaKim> really?
<DaKim> hmm....I didn't think about that
<DaKim>
<Angela> ummm i think this was a canadian story, at least the site was canadian
<Angela>
<Angela> yup a canadian site, and the article was written specifically for them
<Angela>
<DaKim>
<DaKim> well then...don't I look like the fool ;) hmm..in that case.... Ireally think the responsibility should have fallen on the doctor to have made a better decision...
<Angela> actually the docter was a psychiatrist i just reread the first parahgraph
<Angela>
<DaKim>
<DaKim> same here...
<Angela>
<Angela> never mind, I think the docter wanted to be sure that the depression wasn't from something else, or a temporary thing
<Angela>
<DaKim>
<DaKim>
<DaKim> true...but it lasted 2 years..in which she became suicidal...hm....I think thats a strong indication that the psychologist should have done something else
<DaKim>
<Angela> I think its interesting that the somewhat more "natural" remidies or simple treatments seemed to help the most
<Angela>
<Angela>
<DaKim> yeah....once you start screwing with the brain chemically...your asking for trouble...I"m taking pmcol course, and youcan really mess things up when you unbalance the hormones in your system.
<DaKim>
<Angela> well i have some experience with anti depressents (don't worry i wasn't on them for that reason) I was on a type a couple of years ago to help me get more D sleep, because my bady wassn't completely relaxing at might so my muscle stayed cramped all the time, anyway my dosage was about a tenth of the dosage used to treat depression. If tthe amount I was on help me sleep, I wonder what the full dosage does to you.
<Angela>
<DaKim> I don't think I want to know what the full dosage does....but just like tylenol...small dosage of drugs are helpful..its just the massive doese they prescribe that worries me...there seems to be more side-effects than cures that come out of them.
<Angela> Yah, I thats why that newnew drug was so important i can't remember the name right now but it was supposed to have way less side effects
<Angela>
<DaKim>
<DaKim>
<DaKim> well, with more and more research, I'm sure they'll figure some magical pill soooner or later....
<DaKim>
<Angela> we should think abou thee actual summary
<Angela>
<DaKim> agreeed
<DaKim>
<Angela> ummm
<Angela>
<Angela> what are the social consequences to be labelled mentally ill
<Angela>
<DaKim> well....if I could tie in the last part of our assignment....there would be stereotypes attached to them...
<DaKim>
<Angela> yup
<Angela>
<Angela> they risk being looked at differently by friend family etc
<Angela>
<Angela>
<DaKim> and...not only that...if your wrongly diagnosed...ooh..that could be brutal...especially if your on medication..
<DaKim>
<Angela> definatly, but if your correctly diagnosed and the docters help find a treatment that works for you you could lead a normal life
<Angela>
<DaKim> yeah.....that's very true
<DaKim>
<Angela> also the benifits that come from knowing whats wrong (even if its bad) can help a person, such as not being afraid to seek treatment
<Angela>
<DaKim>
<Angela> agreed
<Angela>
<Angela>
<DaKim> true as well....Especially in the case with alison...I thik she desperately wanted to know why she was suffering....
<DaKim>
<Angela> I think whats also important to be addressed that society, though its getting better, doesn't like mental illness (or any illness for that matter) and that we all have to realise that people can be treated or cured, though not in Alison's case
<Angela>
<DaKim> true...but I think that when she knew what disease she had, it made it better ...in some way...
<Angela> oops sorry yes i think knowing helped :)
<Angela>
<Angela> to decrease her symptoms
<Angela>
<Angela>
<Angela>
<Angela> hehe
<Angela>
<DaKim>
<DaKim> ;)
<DaKim>
<Angela> well I think I can write a summary tommorow morning with the stuff we talked about
<Angela>
<DaKim> you sure? is that all it asks us to answer?3....
<DaKim>
<DaKim>
<Angela> s the benefit of the label "schizophrenia" worth the cost to the individual?
<Angela>
<Angela> I think we've answered that
<Angela>
<Angela> sorta
<Angela>
<Angela> agreed
<Angela>
<Angela> just understanding
<Angela>
<DaKim> I think the bulk of our answer should revolve around the argument that, for atleast the individual, it is better to be labelled as a pers onwith schizophrenia, so atleast the person knows that what hs/she is going through isn't his/her own fault...rather a disease. As for society....we seem to have this strong mentality of not wanting to know or talk to people with dieseases....regardless of the fact that they are conttagious or not....its very unfortunate, but I think that if more people were sympathetic and understanding to people such as alision, she might even get better.
<Angela> yup
<Angela>
<DaKim> Yeah...just understanding....but you have to be able to sympthasize with what she must be going through.
<Angela> yah, but some people don't want that, they'll argue that thats treating them, as being sick and i don't think that thats what m,ost of thes epeople want
<Angela>
<DaKim> hmm...I guess....but I mean you can't help but feel for a person when they say stuff like this:
<DaKim> "I still want to die and I wish God would let me die by some natural cause."
<Angela> oh totally, but don't say directly to someone
<Angela>
<Angela> well thats what I think anyway
<Angela>
<Angela>
<DaKim>
<Angela> like i'm an expert or something ;)
<Angela>
<DaKim> heheh
<DaKim>
<Angela> anyway i'm ssoooo sleepy
<Angela>
<Angela> (no you're not boring)
<Angela>
<Angela>
<DaKim> oh...sorry...ok...we should end this session then..I'll cut and paste this up onto the web site then...
<DaKim> ;)
<Angela> thanks
<Angela>
<DaKim> i'll exculdethe intro about lweinsky and stuf....very intersting, but unrelated.
<DaKim>
<Angela> well if its amusing we can keep it on, someone might get a laugh out of iot :)
<Angela>
<DaKim> true.....g'night then
<Angela> hey but if you don't wnt to u dont have to
<Angela>
<DaKim>
<DaKim> it soesn't matter...just that it might take up alot of room...but I don't see any harm in leaving it in there...
<DaKim>
<DaKim>
<Angela> its up to you
<Angela>
<Angela>
<Angela> anyway thanks and i'mm off to bed
<Angela>
<DaKim> no problem...good nite.
<DaKim> (and good riddance ;)
<DaKim> hehehe
<DaKim>
<DaKim> bye ;)
<Angela> bye
<Angela>
--------------------------------------
by the way..don't mind the lewinsky stuff...its just there for your own enjoyment ;)

I just walked in...Long day!!! I just got back from Regina. I missed my flight so I had to take the bus because I had to be here for class tomorrow. Anyways...As I mentioned I think that by labelling patient's with illnesses will only make their self esteem level go down. Also if the psychiatrist labels them with names like that it will make their self esteem level go down even more. Also I think that the patient's should realize that it is not their fault that they have this disease. They should concentrate more on how they can make their symptome better rather then worrying about what people will think of them. Society makes their self esteem go down as well by saying things. Some people won't be friend's or talk to someone with a disease. That makes the patient's self esteem level go down. I think people as a society should realize that they are no different from other human beings.

Here's our summary:

We all agreed that Alison's story was sad, and a look at the frustrations caused by a mental illness. Since schizophrenia has no cure we also felt bad for this woman, she would always have to be on some sort of treatment for her illness. We talked about the drugs and how they are hard on the body. The First doctor, we finnally concluded, wanted to make sure that her depression wasn't due to some other cause, however, Alison had to wait 2 years before a diagnosis or a hint of what her problem was. In the end she states that she knew that her suffering was for a reason and that she finnally has hope. We talked about this too. The benifits for a person being diagnosed can do wonders for them. It can make them understand that their suffering isn't teir fault and that even with no cure, there are many treatments available. As for society's reaction to the label we talked about how we need to not think of Alison as being a Schizophrenic, but a person suffering from schizophrenia. This seperates the disease more from the person. We, as a society don't like illness, in fact there is somne tendancy to hide it away into hospitals, even when there are treatments that let people have a normal or close to normal life. This comes from lack of education and sites like mentalhealth.com are ways to get people to understand what a person like Alison is going through, as well help people who are sick to realize they are not alone. One more note, there is no mention in the text when exactly Alison was diagnosed. We can assume she has been by the fact that the subtitle says so. We also have to understand that it is not always simple to diagnose someone with a mental illness. With statistics like 1 in 5 Canadians will suffer from a mental illness in their lifetime and 2% have severe illness (from http://www3.sympatico.ca/cmha.toronto/copingb.htm ) it is surprising that there is so much misunderstanding. It basically means, like with physical illnesses, such as AIDS and cancer, we need to educate the public and not treat these people like lepers, because it does more harm than good. We also have to encourage more research on these illnesses.

By the way the site I showed David during our icq chat was: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/ontheedge/pill/