Do you think 'mental disorders' are real, or a crutch for most?

I'm 17, been to a therapist since 4th grade.. it's sort of a secret from most of my family though, my mom is the only one who knows, because she set it up.. the school system set me up with the school to see the counselor.. but I always get an ear full from my dad when the subject of bi-polar and all that come up, and how he thinks its a load of crap, and I just nod, agreeing. Even though I've never really been 'diagnosed' with depression, I deffinitely know its worse them most peoples. I just hate making a big deal about things. Earlier this year I tried to kill myself, but when my therapist asked if I needed to be committed, I declined.. because I just don't want to be a problem to people.. Do you think that mental health disorders are real? ADHD, is that just a kid who doesn't listen and needs his *** beaten, like my dad says. Depression, is that just someone who makes themselves depressed, as he says as well? Even though I know he's OCD and so am I, so why would he accept that?

Yes , mental disorders are real. Ask yourself this: If it's possible to have a heart disorder of some kind, then why would it not be possible for the brain to have disorders? The problem with the brain disorders is that they manifest themselves through behavior most times. Unlike most physical ailments that manifest themselves through some physical illness/disability/failure. Since behavior is not physical in nature it is hard for some to understand that there is indeed a real physical problem with the brain. It makes me angry that your father could be so ignorant, at best he'll do you no good, at worst he could possibly harm you by his careless misunderstanding of mental illness.

ADHD is very real as well, kids don't make that up, it would be too difficult for a child to manage faking such an illness.

Depressed people don't "make" themselves depressed, again, it comes from a chemical (real physical) imbalance in the brain that manifests itself through behavior, thought, and emotions.

I think your father is narrow minded and chooses to remain ignorant when it would be easy enough to educate himself about these things on the internet. Ignorance by choice is simple stupidity. Since mental illness by it's very nature is intangable, I think many people do not have either the capacity to understand or simply choose to remain ignorant because to truly understand mental illness takes quite a bit of clarity of thought and understanding. The tangible is much easier to deal with as it's right there before your eyes, you see the effects, whereby with mental illness you feel the effects and it's inherent side effects it has on your behavior and thought processes, but there's nothing to put your hands on, nothing to see.

One last thing, emotionally/mentally healthy people (generally) do not attempt suicide, if you were perfectly healthy and happy, why would you?

it might be a crutch, or like an excuse to be excused from certain responsibilities...

Oh they're real alright

I've just come out of a relationship with a woman who is OCD, has Borderline Personality disorder, is agorophobic, plus more.

mental disorders are real. But people don't like to talk about it. They think it is horrible if someone has a mental disorder. I have depression/anxiety disorder. I first went to a therapist then she suggested I go to a psychiatrist for meds, which I did, and I'm glad I did.

Mental disorders are real. OCD, depression, and ADHD are all chemical (physical) disorders and real.

I'm sorry to hear your dad is neither supportive nor realistic about your problem.

Your father is wrong. These disorders are very real. Some people might use a disorder as a crutch or make something up for attention but it doesn't make mental disorders any less real. These people are showing how real they are. Take care.

your father sounds like a very harsh man and not very understanding or considerate....yes mental illnesses are real...i should no i was placed in a psychiatric hospital for 6 mths due to anorexia..self-harming...depression and social anxiety!!
you shouldn't feel like that your problem will burden other people...go get the help that you need and obvious that you want but seemed to be scared of what your father may think

You have issues for a reason, they are not just something that can be easily labelled as your father said. There are serious, and life threatening, and its too bad that your dad is too ignorant to understand that, and makes sense why you mom would hide it from him. you can't change people and their opinions, so you must accept your dad, but never mind what he has to say about mental disorders.

I think depression can be an issue. But some just act that way to get attention. As for ADD, ADHD, and so on... they just weren't spanked enough as a child and/or were spoiled way too much.

I honestly think those things are a bunch of BS. You become traumatized after attending so much of these therapies. Obviously, the therapist isn't going to tell your mom that you are ok, cus he or she needs the money too! I think your mom did bad in sending to those people. It's sad! I feel bad for you, seek other family members for help and support. Be honest, that's the only way you will get results! Good Luck buddy!

i think mental disorders are very real. there are different opinions on what causes depression, I have heard from people being psychic to actual chemical imbalance.
But mental disorders are quite real, I have a very good friend who has been dealing with therapy and depression since he was 6.

They are real and you need to take them seriously. Your dad has his own problems to worry about. Thearapy can help you overcome mental disorders adn so can drugs, but the truth is there is a lot we still don't understand about the brain so we don't have a perfect cure for things like depression. That being said lots of people deal with issues like depression at different points in their life and are able to recover so don't lose hope. Your dad is scared because he is just as confused as you, ignore him and focuss on tyring to get yourself back together.

i was diagnosed with depression when i was 13 i just turned 17 and i thought they were trying to put me down but no mental disorders are real i mean i thought i was happy but they said i was depressed. i wish it wasnt real

Some people may use mental disorders as a crutch, but mental disorders and mental illness are a very real problem in society. My dad felt like your dad, and he died and left us to take care of his mentally ill wife, my stepmon. If he had recognized her illness as real and gotten her treatment for it we would not be in such a bad situation as we are in now. I am very angry at him for leaving us to cope with this. I also work with kids with ADHD and other learning disabilities and I can tell you that there is a huge difference between kids who are on medication and those who are not. Kids on the proper meds can focus and learn and become productive members of society. Those who are not on meds usually end up dropouts, homeless drug addicts, because they are unable to complete anything or be successful at things they attempt. Mental disorders ARE real and they need to be treated. Do not let ignorant people like your father tell you anything else.

Real. I think people don't like them because they're so common.

Unfortunately there are people like your dad in the world and they are naive to think that mental illness isn't real. My first thoughts of suicide were when I was 10 years old, I lived most of my life thinking that death is preferable to life. I work in a high pressure job and no one knows that I suffer bipolar, I make sure they don't I take my meds and I do my job. I confided in my last boss and she used it as a weapon to bully me, I wont fall for that trap again. Yes there are days when I am more upset than usual and teary, I often brush it off as a bad headache if other ask. We have commercials on the TV to tell us to tell more people so they will be understanding but it has been my experience that only people who have suffered understand and whilst I wouldn't wish this on my worse enemy my response to people like you dad is "for goodness sake to do really believe people would chose to live like that if they had a choice, be real most people want to be happy and enjoy life to be constantly bombarded with thoughts that death is your only option must be horrendous"...that's my stand. For you my advice is to take the easiest option, agree with him and forget it you cant change his thinking only your own so look after yourself and know that you are worthwhile, you are a person not an illness.

Mental disorders are completely real. Your father is probably insecure, and can't face the fact that there is something wrong that is beyond his control. Get the help you need, regardless of what people (including your dad!) say or think. YOU are the most important person! It may sound selfish, but it's true. In YOUR life, You are the most important, and you should only worry about you! If you need to talk, please e-mail me.

Not to sound to spiritual but I know most of the times your mind is attacked by a force that can not be seen. I think most of the time there is a war going on for our soul. I was talking to a guy the other day and he was telling me how he gets these voice attacking him and try to get him to hate God. where does that come from, he is not relgious but voice tell him to turn away from a God he does not know. I think most of the time the voices of demons wisper fear in your life to try and get you in bondage.
The Bible say that " Fear brings torment" I dont know if you ever been in a ward but those people are in torment in there minds. My friend was telling me that he was getting hi on acid and he saw himself getting beat up and when he came through his kitchen was wrecked. Drugs open up a realm that causes you to be exposed to darkness. Now people who get in some kind medical drama i believe it is because doctors dont realize the fact that the soul is being attacked. I myself was always under depression and i thought it was everything but what it was. It was the fact that God has a plan for my life and the Devil hates it. I believe you do too. You do not have to take this as truth but i encourage you to find out what God wants from your life. He can help if you trust him with your life.

You know I really find it interesting that people are so ashamed of mental illness you wouldnt denie yourself help or medication if you had asthma for instance but people seem to think this chemical imbalance in your brain is something to be ashamed of you in my opinion will never be well when you are being ecouraged by your mother to hide this problem hidding this from your friends and family only makes it more difficult to deal with if more people where educated on this subject it wouldnt be such a huge issue and you should NOT be assamed of something that is out of you control good luck

get some energy into your physical half of you and drive through this. don't stop to ask anybody for help cause they all got a line a mile long. get a buddy and do stuff anything just don't stop. hyper people don't have a prayer out there unless they prepare themselves for the stupid world that is out there. i had to get in to gymnastics & martial arts, painted and fabricated motorcyles, scuba & treasure diving, i read eight to ten books at a time and have seens the old man could beat me for being something that he didn't like, get out of the way and get on your way is the way out. only the strong survive, the weak will drive you crazy with their preconcieved world and you are going to live in their world their way unless you go for it in life and when you go don't tell anyone, that is the secret you tell them and they gotta say "you can't do that" screw them and the horse they road in on. super people are the same as anyone else only they know how to go for it and know they can keep there mouth shut about it, real men do live on the planet and they hurt and heal just like anybody else only they are either mentor teachers or champions, pushing u up. and we fall down and we get back up, it's the best, go deep and challenge where it is to change, and build

Most definately mental disorders are real. Your dad dosen't know what he's talking about or he's very much in denial. I can talk all night about this subject but I would rather not upset you or myself, again mental disorders are real. I have lived with bipolar,personality disorder, anxiety disorder, eating disorder,tried to kill myself 8 times in the last 4 years. I had to be put in state mental hospitals more than once,so yes they are real.Tell your dad he dosen't know what he's talking about.

If you have feeling of uncertainty that alone can be part of your illness, Yes there ar mental illness and there is help for them to an extent just like heart disease,
The fact that your farther talks like that shows a sign that you father him self need help people living around others with mental illness can live in denial or just don't understand until they learn on the subject, even your mom might need some therapy trust me its good for every body.

Tell you parents to check out this site www.depressionfallout.com

I don't know you or your father personally, so this just my opinion.

Your father is dead wrong, and you will be too if you listen to him.

Listen to and take advice from your mom instead, after all, she's the one who has actually helped you by setting up that appointment for you, and she seems to understand mental illness, notwithstanding the ignorance of your father.

Either your dad just hates all people who have mental illness because they remind him of himself, or he just doesn't care enough about you to bother with your illness so he tells you that you're just imagining it all.

You have to talk to your doctor with your mom present, but not your dad, and take the medications he or she prescribes for you, along with psychiatric counseling every week.

Don't be afraid of what your dad or anyone else thinks about you; mental illness isn't a crime and there is nothing for you to feel guilty about.

Your dad is wrong. Although some disorters are ovrely digonised, that does not mean they don't exisest. Mabey for some kids a wake on the but will help, but if you truly have the disoreter it won't. In fact it will make it worse. The proublems are real. I was dignosed with ADHD at 8 and my dad like you dad does not belive it is a disorter. He thinks I just act like I have it so that I can be like my friend that also has ADHD and take meds. Witch is not posible because I was digonesed before I ment her....So I am trying to scrape good grades at school and my faimly refuses to execpt the fact that I have a proublem. I don't want to do the medicen, I just want them to support me and mabey go to some consling. Life is though. I know it sucks to have no one supporte you...at least you mom does...But I feel for you. My dad is a Alcoholic but he won't get treament. And deppresion is real, why would some one want to be sad? Well you almost an adult so soon you can make your on decions. Good luck.