Question

The chapter on Studying Psychological Disorders addresses many problems about which people often know very little and have many erroneous ideas. What are significant learnings you had from reading this chapter; how has this learning changed the way you think about psychological problems? Please be specific and thorough in your answer.

Answer 1

For so long people perceived psychological ailments as the works of the devil and they were tortured in the name of religion. They were separated because people thought that the evil will pass on to them as well.

Learning disabilities, personality disorders, anxiety disorders, phobias, post traumatic disorders were all looked with contempt. They were not given any treatment because people never know that they were psychological and physiological problems that could be cured.

My understanding is that this branch of studying psychological disorders is called psychopathology. This not only deals with direct mental illness but tries to understand the physiological, societal and genetic reasons in a scientific way.

I also understand that any psychological ailment can be cured with proper care and medication because our body is made up of different chemicals, tissues and bones and if we could identify the cause, then we can definitely balance whatever is missing by compensating with the right chemical, tissue or even bone.

Most of the disorders could be cured through proper counseling and psychotherapy but one challenge that is still not completely dealt with is the awareness about these disorders among the common people. They think that if they go for counseling, then they will be branded as mental. If this misconception is clarified to the public that getting treated for psychological problems is very similar to going for a doctor when they are physically ill.

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