The TED Talk: A Tale Of Mental Illness?

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Schizophrenia along with several other mental illnesses are causing people to suffer on a daily basis in our society. After watching the TED Talk titled, “A Tale of Mental Illness,” I knew I had my topic chosen. This woman, Elyn Saks, has suffered all of her life with schizophrenia. Luckily, Elyn has had wonderful treatment, along with the support of friends and family, and a workplace that is extremely supportive, but this is not the case for everyone with a mental illness. Even Elyn described a time where she was mistreated and strapped down to a bed in a hospital involuntarily. This was a part of her speech that really upset me as I am sure it does others. Elyn’s TED Talk, lead me to see how this disease has some real issues surrounding …show more content…

She made it clear and I believe it to be true also, that people are suffering and not able to receive the proper treatment. Many homeless and incarcerated people are suffering from mental illnesses and will only continue to be put into the system or stay on the street if they are not helped in the necessary ways. Elyn is such a strong woman who references a traumatic time for her, where a doctor seemed pretty abusive in attempts to strap her down to a bed and admitted her to the hospital. People who suffer from schizophrenia are humans just like you and I, and they don’t feel safe or comfortable being strapped down to a bed just like you and I wouldn’t. I can’t imagine how I would feel experiencing the horrible hallucinations and delusions that she described. The textbook goes hand in hand with what Elyn describes as her moments of psychosis. She experiences hallucinations and delusions which are described in this course in chapter 12. This chapter also addresses antipsychotic medications or drugs which play and played a large part in helping Elyn to be a productive member of society. Antipsychotic drugs can be extremely beneficial to patients and will continue to be for many

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