Mental Illness In The Metamorphosis

Although society’s view of people with disabilities has evolved over time, becoming more accepting, there is still many barriers that exist for people with disabilities, especially those with mental illness. The book “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka tells a story about a traveling salesman turned vermin overnight, depicting his thoughts and state of his new life. The book is a brilliant look inside the mind of someone struggling with a mental illness. It exploits their general loss of enjoyment, resistance to seek help, and isolation from others. In particular, one group of people, struggling with mental illness, is rarely spoken about, and those people being physicians. The very people meant to keep society healthy cannot even find help

This is seen in the “The Metamorphosis” as the story progresses Gregor soon loses interest in activities, has significant weight-loss, a reduced capacity for decision-making, and feelings of excessive guilt, which are all symptoms of depression. His transformation can be interpreted as a change in his mental state with the onset of severe depression. As his depression deepens, his relationship with his family worsens and his feelings of isolation increase. In the beginning he is able to move around even speak with his family, but as his condition worsens he finds it hard to do things and loses the ability to speak with his family. Similarly, at the onset of mental illness for physicians they may find it easy to still complete their daily tasks, but as time progresses, without care, soon it may begin to interfere with their lives and work. Every year around 400 doctors commit suicide, making them twice as likely to kill themselves than non-physicians. Perhaps if physicians felt more comfortable seeking help this number could be drastically reduced. Often, physicians are portrayed as strong and untroubled professionals that excel in life, this expectation and image of them is the very thing hurting them. It is time to realize that sometimes they struggle. They have disabilities. This does not make them weak or unable to perform their job. It makes them

It is important to talk about these issues, making them more acceptable before it becomes too late for some physicians. Unfortunately for Gregor, he was unable to get this acceptance and support. Finally, in his darkest state, the little humanity he has left is taken from him when his sister rejects his identify, and he finally accepts his transformation giving up on life and dies. Perhaps if Gregor’s family was more accepting or he had sought out help sooner his death could have been prevented and condition improved. Although views on mental illness have come a long way, there are still significant changes that need to take place in medical culture to allow physicians to feel safe and secure in obtaining help for their mental illness. It is time to strip the stigma away from mental illness and disability in the medical field, and offer better resources and acceptance for physicians with mental illness. Often physicians push aside their own personal burdens to care for their patients, yet the best way they can do this is by first taking care of