Bad Girls Club Mental Illness

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Mental illnesses can develop through the surroundings of others with a mental illness. The fictional novel, Bad Girls Club by Judy Gregerson, depicts the story of Destiny’s perspective on her mother with schizophrenia, a mental illness, and how it affects her whole family. For the well-being of the family, Destiny has to self sacrifice. She ends up holding her family together by focusing on them rather than her health, social life and individuality. Mental illness can not only be caused hereditary, but by environmental factors, such as family, neglect, and parentification. Destiny’s mother, June, has a mental illness that is afflicted environmentally. When Destiny goes downstairs and approaches near the fireplace where June was located. While …show more content…

When Destiny sat, she had a stomach ache and she claims “yogurt helps; it’s the only thing I’ve eaten for days,” (Gregerson 102). No one usually takes care of Destiny, so she has to look after herself. However, she can not make time for herself because of the obligation to take care of her mother and sister, Cassidy. Destiny is neglected, since her parents do not provide any food or any care for her. She is also trying to take the role of a mother, showing parentification, to Cassidy and her parents. Destiny’s parents don’t act like parents and provide for their children. They do not cook for Destiny, so she does not take the time to eat. Taking care of June and dealing with her mental illness can cause Destiny to be mentally ill too. After Destiny talked to her grandma, she lays on her bed and feels a dark presence, it “stands over my bed-a tall dark creature with black wings,” (Gregerson 199). This demonstrates how Destiny is hallucinating and being suffocated by a presence of darkness. Destiny’s hallucination is most likely caused by being surrounded by June’s and Cassidy’s mental state, and how it’s gotten out of her hands to deal with. With Destiny always trying to help or fix the family and the mental problems, it has taken a toll on her and her mental state. June and Cassidy can spread their mental illness or darkness to Destiny. Destiny doesn’t realize how taking care of her family, especially her mother, can

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