Question

In order to illustrate the social construction of illness, choose a specific "disease” and trace how it’s been approached historically, as well as clearly explain how it is approached in the present. For example, the history of alcoholism shows a view that changes from concerns of morality and self-control to one of chemical addiction based on genetic tendencies. Other possibilities include schizophrenia, ADD, depression, etc. Use appropriate textual evidence to support your claims.

Answer 1

Hello!

Schizophrenia as we know is a mental disorder that can mostly start during adolescence and through adulthood and there us no permanent cure for this except for short term cure and may return after a trigger and this basically includes imaginations, hallucinations etc.As it may sound as something clinical and it is identified as a medical condition but however quiet some time ago this was seen as anything silly as saying it's all just imagination it's all in your head and to the extent where a few communities believed that the individual was being possessed by something evil ,or is under a spell or just categorize every other individual wirh mental illness as mad and for the longest time and even till date many people and places consider schizophrenia as just as simple as acting or being silly and I've personally seen patients not receive treatment and live in darkness, they do not receive help even when they can and sometimes they were given herbs as medicines which quiet obviously did not work and generally in olden days people were less scared as they did not know how serious it could get and most people were kept in the dark chained in their houses and were not sent out ,most of this is my own personal experience of seeing people who are such .But however schizophrenia to people in this day and age is understood and people understand the concept of psychology which makes it easy , at present there is clinical treatment for schizophrenia as well as therapies and medication and it can be diagnosed and treated and there are special care centres for such individuals (examples: Cadabams) a chain of mental health hospital. IT is relieving as I said earlier to see people understand how dangerous it can be and how to make sure they are away from the triggers.

Thank you, hope this helped.