Mental illness is a disease.
Wikipedia; “In humans, disease is often used more broadly to refer to any condition that causes pain, dysfunction, distress, social problems, or death to the person afflicted, or similar problems for those in contact with the person.”
This has currently been applied to alcoholics, opioid addicts, or anyone falling into the category defined (above) by Wikipedia. Which means, obviously, those of us with neurological conditions are diseased (?). Seems kind of scary, doesn’t it?
I am beginning to notice a conflict with the term “disability” and references to “diseases”. Fer instanz - the alcoholism and opioid debate. Why are those two conditions referred to as “diseases” and bipolar disorder is a “disorder”, or a “disability”? Really? Why isn’t alcoholism a disability and not a disease?
If you have a mental illness (“illness” v. “disease”)(?), how do we make the jump to “disability”? Neurological disorders can be genetic and/or the result of injury to the cranium. Problems with neurological abnormalities can be the result of environmental pollution, too. Lead in the water system can lead to retardation, we know this. Medical science has proven the effects of lead poisoning; like 100 years ago this was a known fact. Maybe before that?
I have begun to refer to my condition, diagnosed as Bipolar plus PTSD, as a disease. As opposed to a disability. Somehow, to me, it’s easier to feel more “normal” referring to my neurological challenge as a disease. I mean, I am not really disabled physically. In fact, for my age I am able way above the curve for physical “abilities”. I don’t need, nor do I ever use, a “Handicap parking spot”. Don’t need ramps or Braille or a hearing aid.
Are diabetes and thyroid conditions “disabilities” or diseases? Well, both are more commonly called “conditions”, medical conditions. With diabetes we just say “diabetic”. ? … ?? (?).
No! I don’t have answers or solutions to this conundrum.
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