If a person with a mental disorder is stll able to function normally, should they be allowed to live normally?
146654
That truly depends upon the person and their specific disorder.  A patient who behaves normally yet suffers from and is formally diagnosed with a disorder without a high tendency of exposing the public to his or her symptomology is called termed "high functioning".  In many cases, individuals coping with a disorder will only be "disturbed" when they should encounter their particular trigger.  Even so, there are innumerable advances in the realm of psychiatric treatment such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) as well as various meds which can keep such symptoms at bay.  That being said, if the person poses no threat to neither themself nor the rest of society (due to a disorder), there is usually no feasible necessity to bar them away.  By the way, I read your earlier inquiry about the symptoms you've been experiencing.  It seems quite evident to me that you may well have what is called "Borderline Personality Disorder".  It is a personality disorder with such key traits as "a deep and irrational fear of real or imagined abandonment" and has been linked to anxiety disorders as well.  Don't worry though, BPD is very treatable.  Research it for your own good...
381030
"a serious mental disorder caused by brain disease or injury, that affects the ability to think, remember and behave normally" i found this answer in oxford dictionary\nin my opinion sleeping in the right time ,exercising,hiking\n, and other group sports may help u.
438926
If sane people around you confirm that you have good judgment to what's right and what's wrong then why not? I guess if you live according to what you think is right, it will not be much different from living according to the rules set by society.
202370
It's amazing that although this question is posted in the Medicine section, there is no medical-informed answer before (and including) this one!\n\nLater addition:\nOK, the problem is that the concept of "madness", "mental illness" or "insanity", is too wide and complex to deserve a unique definition.\nA simpler scenario is the legal one (taken from the omnipresent Wikipedia), where a person is defined "insane" when presents inability to either determine the difference between "right" and "wrong" (or, in a more practical or direct sense, "legal" and "illegal") or understand the consequences of one's own actions.
1069690
I'll give you my view as a psychologist: the label of 'mentally ill' is just as subjective as the norms themselves! I mean, who decides what the norm will be anyway? And therefore, who can decide what is normal and what's beyond normal? The social norm is subject to culture, era, tradition, religion, etc. The only norm that can be considered somewhat objective is each person's norm; either his norm for himself, or his norm for evaluating external events. And that is formed by his own life experiences and other personal variables. For example, if your mother has a psychotic personality and your father frequently expresses neurotic symptoms, it will be absolutely normal for you to form a borderline-like behaviour system!
386242
personally, i think that some forms of mental illness can come and go pretty quickly. i think that you have to be in some state of mental illness to want to commit suicide, and the same goes for killing someone (other than self-defense kind of thing). if one is in extreme, chronic pain, then i think that's the only circumstance in which one can commit suicide without being mentally ill. it's important to remember that even depression is a mental illness. depression is a chemical imbalance in one's brain, and that's not different than some conventional sicknesses (e.g. stress can cause a chemical imbalance in one's stomach which can lead to physical sickness). i think that too many of us fear the stigma of the phrase "mental illness" and therefore play down things that are truly mental illnesses.
571941
Therapy & medication only helps you to keep going. You need to find the source of cause to be able to treat it & learn how to cope with it. There is no shame in having mental illness. There are many different ways to deal with it & its a matter of finding out what works for you & for the kind of illness you have.
139229
Only if there has been a reason for you to still be considered "dependant" such as mental illness, limited mental capacity, etc. An adult with no physical/mental limitations living at home with the parents is not a matter of an individuals capacity to care for themselves. It's usually due to a finacial hardship, temporary emotional strain (such as divorce), or other similar situation.\n\nDepending on the state you live in, at a specific age, or upon marriage, a child is considered an adult an may move  out of the parentalhome at will...unless certain criteria have been met, as stated above.
278131
Yes it can. Its a very serious problem. Even if the person survives, he/she may have to deal with disability. Sorry, if my answer has caused anxiety to you, but thats fact. Anyhow, medicine has advanced a lot, so hope for the best.
431384
First of all, not all mentally retarded people produce children with mental retardation.  \n\nIf the person is disabled to the point where they can't take care of themselves, I say no, they shouldn't have children.  If the person is mildly retarded it's a different story.  \n\nI generally don't believe in disallowing the right to reproduce, but if the child can not possibly be taken care of without constant outside help, I have to say that it is extremely unfair to the kids.  If the parents decide to put the child up for adoption, I'm in favor of it.  If they plan on keeping children they can't care for due to their disability, then no.  I know that sounds awful, but I'm talking about severe disability only.
76821
generally yes. however only 2% of people with mental illnesses are violent.. stop watching all those stupid hollywood movies..\n\nalso psychopath is not an appropriate word.. psychosis is a symptom.. not an illness...\n\na personality disorder such as anti-social generally are the more appropriate diagnosis..\n\nnote to question asker.. dr. dee doesnt have the slightest fricking clue what he is talking about.. geez.. quite frankly id call his post a textbook example of "projection".. if you want to learn something about psychology.. see what he says if he returns and reads this paragraph.. ;)\n\nas to your hypothetical.. many serial killers prior to being caught were very well known and liked members of society.. chances are if you knew a serial killer you would have no idea he was in fact one... ted bundy for example was a very charming gentleman.. nobody would have guessed.\n\n\n>>As to bipolar.. aka manic-depressive.. some are known to be violent at times, when they are, it is impulsive. For example... If a person with bipolar attacks or kills somebody its not well planned and would be obvious to authorties who was responsible for it. Because of the nature of bipolar disorder... the person would eventually "come back to reality". Now as to psychopaths who are "serial killers"... by the time somebody had claimed enough victems to be labeled as such, would be experienced and "rational" enough to know not to behave in a way which would indicate their guilt for murder or any other crime. Many people who have a tendancy towards psychosis are very intelligent people, ironically.\n\nlizzie borden is an example of "impulsive".. as I already mentioned.. she killed her parents with an axe.. she wasnt a serial killer.. and from my understanding of the story.. they probably deserved it..\n\nby the way.. Ms. Borden was found "not guilty" of those murders... does it mean she was innocent?.. probably not (think O.J.).. but legally she was...
562651
A mentally healthy person.. someone who has achieved an acceptable balance of physical, mental,spiritual well being.\nYou can be mentally ill, and still be the picture of mental health, If you are happy, functional and are successfully sustaining yourself, then all is well
1056715
NO!\n\nA mentally ill, mentally disturbed, or mentally handicapped person should be treated no differently than the rest of us, if they are a criminal.\n\nHere's why:\nA murderer kills a bunch of people, including little children. His lawyer says he is mentally unstable. He does not get the maximum sentence, in fact the judge orders him into a psychiatric ward instead of prison. Then, another person kills a bunch of people, and his lawyer isn't smart enough to use the "insanity" loophole. He gets the death penalty.\nHow is this a fair, consistent, just system?\nHere's another little tidbit for your brain to chew on:\n\nIsn't EVERY serial murderer, by definition, insane?\nIsn't EVERY rapist, by definition, insane?\nIsn't EVERY armed robber, terrorist, or assassin, by definition, unstable?\n\nEvery immoral criminal act is a sign of psychotic or sociopathic tendencies. So, why have prisons? Why not release everyone with a doctor's note? Execute all the murderers, retarded, insane, underage, you name it. Make the system fair. There's no reason why one murderer should be executed while another one goes free on a bullsh*t technicality.\n\n"But, I don't know the difference between right and wrong!"\nSo? How does that excuse you from consequences?\nDOESN'T THAT MAKE YOU EVEN MORE A DANGER TO YOURSELF AND OTHERS??? HOW IS THAT A GOOD THING?\nBeing ignorant does not make you innocent. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. That's what the law says. It should apply equally to everyone.\n\nWhat do you do with a dog that doesn't know better than to viciously attack humans? You put them down. That's all there is to it. Save the innocent, punish the guilty.
1107694
mentally ill patients - hmm if they are trainable i guess they might be better than totally dependent don't you think.\nas long as this is not a progressive disease that caused the disability i guess this will turn out to be more managable
924233
I believe that it would be a huge injustice if a truly mentally ill person was put into a prison with sane people but i do not belive they should get off easier than any other human being. But to answer your question it would be horible if it couldn't be used in court because you have to have a way to seperate the crazies from the assholes. I believe if it passes it would be unconstitional be cause it would infringe on the right to a fair trial.
115356
Generally, no; but any insane asylum needs to know how to make survival compulsory for their suicidal inmates. I'd think some of the more basic forms of learning could also be forced.
195654
I think it depends on what kind of mental handicap the parents have. Unless they are mature enough and can handle the responsibilities of being a parent then no - they shouldn't be able to raise children. But that should go for any parents...