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Social stigma of mental illnesses essay
Mental illness in today's society
Social stigma of mental illnesses essay
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The book, ‘Still Alice’, is written from the perspective of Alice, a woman diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Focusing on Alice’s thoughts, feelings and wishes surrounding her experiences throughout the progression of her condition, as well as the impact which she believes her illness will have upon her family, the story can relate to the emotional state of many individuals during the transition into mental distress. Within the book various themes relevant to social work become evident, however, this review concentrates on the issue of identity and how this can be impacted by loss, as well as societal treatment following a diagnosis of mental illness. The book highlights the numerous psychological and emotional effects which …show more content…
However following the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease, Alice’s self-worth plummets as uncertainty causes her to question her identity. Whilst comprehending her role and purpose in life, Alice struggles with her emotional responses as she grieves the loss of the person she was and the person she will become. Alice is not only affected by various emotions relating to her dilemma, such as fear of the unknown and disbelief over her inaccurate assumption of dementia stereotyped as an ‘older person’s disease’, but Alice also contends with negative internalised feelings, such as hopelessness, worthlessness and failure, brought on by the derogatory treatment and discrimination she receives from societal prejudicial attitude on account of her ‘label’. Alice becomes a target for differential treatment as the stigma surrounding mental health labels means Alice is assumed incapable of thinking and acting rationally; something which she herself starts to …show more content…
The strengths perspective of social work focuses and utilises the assets family members possess to minimise their difficulties. Social workers are mindful of diversity and, to prevent bias, remain non-judgmental and respectful of families varying norms, values and attitudes, as well as have awareness of the potential of their own values influencing practice. As in many families with parents with relatively low care needs the high cost of assisted care means caring tends to befall upon daughters because of gender inequality and the assumption that females are more nurturing. In the story, Lydia had a strained relationship with her mother, but is was unthinkable for her father and brother to care for Alice as their role was as financial providers for the family’s needs. Consequentially, although Alice felt guilt and a burden to the family, Lydia adopted the role of primary carer, partially out of love and loyalty for her mother, but also necessity due to the family’s traditional views of gender. Although caring and supporting Alice with her mental ill-health needs enabled Lydia and her mother to repair and rekindle a closer relationship. Lydia tailed communication around Alice’s capabilities and through being honest and open, Lydia began to understand Alice as she could empathise with her mother’s plight and its emotional effect.
Lisa Genova, the author of Still Alice, a heartbreaking book about a 50-year-old woman's sudden diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, graduated valedictorian from Bates College with a degree in Biopsychology and holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University. She is a member of the Dementia Advocacy, Support Network International and Dementia USA and is an online columnist for the National Alzheimer's Association. Genova's work with Alzheimer's patients has given her an understanding of the disorder and its affect not only on the patient, but on their friends and family as well (Simon and Schuster, n.d.).
This theory views the family as a system containing interrelated and interacting parts. Whether something is affecting a family member positively or negatively, all family members are affected by these factors (Mitrani,Feaster, McCabe, Czaja, Szapocznik, 2004). In this case, the Howland family must cope with the vast changes in the cognitive function of their mother Alice. Throughout the film, we see how the impact of Alzheimer’s disease affects the family as a whole. Lydia who lives in California must move back home so that she can take care of her mother while her father is away at his new job. This is an example of how Alice’s Alzheimer’s diagnoses does not only affect her, but also affects Lydia’s life. Another example of how the disease affects the family system is when John and Alice are about to go for a run; Alice advises John that first she must use the bathroom before they part. Sadly Alice does not remember where the bathroom is in the house and she urinates in her
Weick (1992) states “every person has an inherent power that may be characterized as life force, transformational capacity, life energy, spirituality, regenerative potential, and healing power, which is a potent form of knowledge that can guide personal and social transformation” (p. 24). No matter the crisis or oppression, it needs to be brought to client’s realization that they are strong, resilient and can overcome. They may not be aware of this inner power due to the constant stress and overwhelming sense of impending doom in their lives, but with the help of the strengths perspective, we can assist clients in realizing that they have strengths as well as weaknesses. Clients want to know that they can rely on social workers to provide adequate resources and respect their current situation, no matter how difficult it may be. Clients want to know that we can empathize with their situation and provide support, care and concern for the issues they are going through; they need to know that we will help them achieve their goals and not give up on them as many may have before in their lives. Saleeby (2013) states “your cli...
Alzhiemer’s disease is the most common form of dementia . It is a disease in which nerve cells in the brain die. As nerve cells die it’s difficult for the brain's signals to be transmitted properly. The death of the nerve cells occurs gradually over a period of years. The gradual loss of brain function seems to be due to two main forms of nerve damage, nerve cells develop tangles (neurofibrillary tangles) and protein deposits known as beta-amyloid plaques build up in the brain. The first sign of Alzheimers is memory impairment. Recent memory is lost first and as time goes on, attention is lost, simple calculations become impossible, and ordinary daily activities become difficult, and the patient feels bewildered and frustrated. Symptoms tend to worsen at night which is known as the sundown effect. Patients have dramatic mood swings such as outbursts of anger, bouts of fearfulness, and periods of lethargy. The patient becomes increasingly disoriented and because of disorientation they may wander off and become lost. Alzheimer’s also results in physical problems like an odd gait, or a loss of coordination. Over the course of time patients lose physical and communicative abilities entirely. Alzheimer's disease can run its course from onset to death in as few as four years, or it may play out over a period of as long as 20 years. On average people suffer with Alzheimer's disease for about nine years. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. One person out of eight age 65 and over has the disease.
In the modern age scientists and researchers are constantly discovering new diseases and disorders that affect the human body. With technology improving and new equipment being introduced it enables scientists to gain more knowledge about the disorders than ever before. During the last century a German physician by the name of Alois Alzheimer linked a patient’s memory loss to her brain autopsy which displayed signs of brain shrinkage. His discovery is now known today as Alzheimer’s disease; which is a form of dementia and is a psychological disease that causes the brain to deteriorate. In today’s day and age, there are still many unanswered questions about Alzheimer’s disease (Crider, A., Goethals, G., Kavanough, R., & Solomon, P. 1989). A few known facts are that Alzheimer’s disease is it is most commonly found in elderly humans, with majority of carriers being age 60 or older. It is important to note that Alzheimer’s disease is not an old person’s disease and that it can also be found in adults of younger ages. Furthermore, there are two forms of Alzheimer’s disease. The two forms are called Early-onset which is found in adults ages 30-59 and Late-Onset which is more common and occurs in adults ages 60 and up. Alzheimer’s disease may not be curable, however with the right information it can be easy to conquer (Alzheimer and Dementia Resources).
People that are diagnosed with Dementia have an advanced brain disorder that can make it progressively more difficult for them to think clearly, remember things, communicate to others, or even take care of themselves on their own. I have been personally affected by this disorder through members of my family and that is why this particular lecture caught my attention the most. I didn’t realize how serious this disorder can be and how much it not only impacts a person’s memory loss, but many other aspects of their life. The topics that interested me the most and ones I wanted to learn more about were normal aging memory loss versus symptoms of Dementia, how families cope with a loved one with Dementia, and the difference between Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
A major conflict is focusing on after Alice’s brain operation, she perceives to everyone and herself she’s the same girl she used to be. Unfortunately, her friends and family don’t agree that she is the same person. “You’re always saying that you are still you because you have the same brain, but who is to say that your whole personality is in your head?” (pg.5) Jenny argues that Alice is a completely different person than who she used to be. Their mother stands up for Alice but secretly does not agree with her, she does not see Alice as the daughter she used to have. “Sometimes I think my sister is dead.” (pg.5) This similar quote is showing how powerful Jenny feels about the new Alice and her failure to see how Alice is truly seeking self reflection. “Alice stared at her mother, but again her mother avoided her eyes.” (pg.5) This final quote impacts the reader 's empathetically and Alice immeasurably knowing that her own mother doesn’t accept her for who she is now. These quotes show the frustration from Alice and her family, skillfully building apprehensive conflict in the rising
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, and this terminal, progressive brain disorder has no known cause or cure. Its greatest known risk factor is increasing age which is why is it is infamous for developing in the elderly, typically in ages 65 or over, however for the 5%(1) that develop Alzheimer’s in their 40s or 50s it is known as early Alzheimer’s. Because Alzheimer’s worsens over time, those with it tend to struggle with completing daily tasks especially elderly people. Given that there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, the treatments available slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. It is not known what causes Alzheimer's, however, those with Alzheimer's have been found to have abnormal amounts of protein (amyloid plaques) and fibres.(The amyloid plaques and fibres are found in regions of the brain where problem solving and thinking take place e.g The cerebrum.) Due to the unusual amounts of amyloid plaques and fibres, it reduces the effectiveness of healthy neurons and eventually, destroying them.
Still Alice is a book that puts you in the shoes of a middle aged woman named Alice Howard. Throughout the novel you follow the progression of Alice’s early onset Alzheimer's disease. Alice is a psychology professor at Harvard University where she met her husband while they were studying, she has been teaching linguistics there for over twenty years. She is known as one of the best in her profession and travels all over the nation to give talks about her studies at conferences. Her husband John is a research scientist at Harvard as well, researching cancer. They have three children together Anna, Tom, and Lydia all three are thriving in their respective careers just like their parents.
Alice Walker was born on February 9, 1944. She grew up in Eatonton as the youngest child out of eight. Her parents, Minnie Grant and Willie Walker, were poor sharecroppers. Alice was raised with in a family of poverty and a life of violent racism. Her environment left a permanent impression on her writing (“Alice Walker”). When she was eight, Alice and her brother were playing a game of “Cowboys and Indians” when she was blinded in her right eye. This incident occurred by a BB gun pallet. She was teased by her classmates and misunderstood by her family and became shy. She isolated herself from her classmates, and she explains, “ I no longer felt like the little girl I was. I felt old, and because I felt I was unpleasant to look at, filled with shame.” She had the amazing opportunity to have the cataract removed when she was fourteen. She had it removed, yet her sight in her right eye never returned.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, in 2007, in the United States more than 5 million people were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease ("Alzheimer's Disease"). Researchers call Alzheimer’s Disease a “progressive degenerative disorder of the brain” ("Alzheimer's Disease"). Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common form of dementia and a major cause of senile dementia (Xing, et al.). While recognizing the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease is important, it is also important to realize that men and women react differently to the disease.
In Alice Walker’s short story “Everyday Use”, from the psychoanalytical perspective, the three women in the story represent the tri-part division of the mind, evidenced by their actions and the descriptions of each within the story. Together, each tri-part illustrates what was, a black woman’s status in society, and the mental disturbances she faces as glimmers of social integration granted her an opportunity to elevate herself to a higher class, at the cost of her identity. Mama embodies the role of the super-ego. As the narrator in the story, it is through her eyes that the reader both judges and labels the character of her two daughters, and this is based on her own learned ethics. Dee embodies the Id; her role as an antagonistic foil to Maggie, represents the disturbance of impulses untamed. Lastly, Maggie embodies the ego; the conscious self, and is battered by the aggressive nature of the Id in her sister Dee and restricted by the morals taught and reiterat...
It was a cold Sunday afternoon when I took my grandma and my grandpa out on our routine walk. It was the perfect day out and feel like my grandma and grandpa were both in good moods, so i thought it would be the perfect time to ask my grandma about her high school life, but first i would like to address that my grandma does indeed have Alzheimer’s, now I know what you are thinking why bring up a topic from so long ago if they cant remember it? Well my grandma tends to remember more of the past than the present, also my grandpa was there to help answer any questions.
First words, first memories, things that I should hold precious to my heart. If only they weren't so hard to come by. Alzheimer's a debilitating disease in which the victim starts having problems with their memory. First you forget a loved one, then where you live, you forget who you are, forget how to perform everyday tasks, and eventually forget how to breath. It's my reality. With my paternal lineage carrying the disease in their blood chances are a dormant gene is coursing through mine. Things like memories are sacred and should be made with every chance I get. Even at such a young age it worries me how little I remember. All my memories are lost fragments buried under dirt, like nothing even existed before I turned eight. Like a spill
The man to discover Alzheimer’s disease was Alois Alzheimer; he discovered it after a patient with an abnormal mental illness passed. Alzheimer’s, also known as AD, is named after Alois Alzheimer and is a continuing loss of brain function that affects thinking skills, such as forming or retrieving memories and judgment. I think that it took him so long to discover that it was a new disease because Alzheimer’s can be so subtle that only a drastic change in the view of the brain can show the outcome of the cells. This disease affects older people however it is not a normal part of aging. AD does not have a cure yet, scientists are however trying to find the root of the disease and control its destructive powers.