Madness and Women

By Sarah Dawson
Staff Writer

Throughout history women have been considered the weaker sex. They are generally assumed to be more prone to emotional breakdowns and mental illness as they are deemed to be not as psychologically durable as men.

Are women in fact a weaker sex mentally, or do we categorize them this way because of patriarchal society and existing stereotypes? Are women frail or are the breakdowns merely consequences of years of male dominance? Mental illness is a medical disorder, not a character flaw or a sign of personal defect.

Some see life as a battle, where every encounter is a struggle. Others see living as an adventure. A new day brings new opportunities to discover. If something goes poorly today, there’s always tomorrow.

Mental Illness Awareness week is October 3-9, 2010. It is a national observance designated by the U.S. Congress and U.S. President due to the escalating awareness of mental illness, and the need to minimize the stigma related to it.

Stigma is an extremely existent dilemma for those who have a mental illness.

Based on stereotypes, stigma is a harmful judgment based on a personal trait. For those living with mental illness the stigma imposed on them by society can have devastating effects.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, is a non-profit –grass roots organization providing support, education and advocacy to individuals, families and friends affected by mental illness.

NAMI offers a range of peer education, support, training programs, and initiatives and services for individuals, family members, and the general public. These programs draw on the knowledge of individuals who have learned to be in this world with mental illness and have been extensively taught to be of assistance to others.

NAMI’s support and public education efforts are focused on educating America about mental illness, offering resources to those in need, and insisting that mental illness become a high national priority.

Good mental health is an important part of a woman’s overall health. All women feel worried, anxious, or sad from time to time. But a true mental health disorder makes it hard for a woman to function normally.

It’s important to keep in mind that mental health disorders are actual medical illnesses that can’t be willed or wished away. They affect both the mind and the body; it’s not just “all in your head.” In fact, while most mental health disorders do not have a precise cause, they result from a combination of life events, brain chemicals, genes, hormones, and illness.

These disorders, in which women dominate, affect approximately 1 in 3 people in our community and constitute a serious public health problem. People with mental disorders have difficulty holding a job or caring for themselves, so they rely on others for help.

Depression is not only the most common women’s mental health problem but is said to be more persistent in women than men. (12.4 million women suffer from depression, as compared to 6.4 million men (NIMH).

Gender-specific risk factors for common mental disorders that disproportionately affect women include gender-based violence, socioeconomic difficulty, and income discrimination, low or subordinate social status, and incessant accountability for the care of others.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO):

• Depressive disorders account for 41.9% of psychiatric disorders in women compared to 29.3% in men.

• Primary mental health problems of the elderly are depression, organic brain syndromes, and dementias. The majority of those who suffer these problems are women.

Women who suffer from depression are often focused on the meaning of their lives and the importance that they place in themselves. They become depressed about their role in their marriage or inability to find a worthwhile career. There is also emphasis on low social status and economic discrimination of women, role expectations, which results in a state of learned helplessness.

A disorder commonly not spoken of and one that people should be informed about is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). It is a serious mental illness characterized by instability of mood, interpersonal relationships, self-image, and behavior. This instability often disrupts family and work life, long-term planning, and the individual’s sense of identity. 75% of people diagnosed with this illness are women (WHO).

People with BPD view themselves as essentially worthless and have little to no concept of who they are. They have highly unstable patterns of social relationships and exhibit other impulsive behaviors, such as excessive spending, binge eating and risky sex. BPD often occurs in concert with other psychiatric problems, particularly bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse.

Suicide rates are steadily increasing. While men commit suicide four times more than women, women attempt it three times as often (NIMH).

Why are women trying to kill themselves? Suicide among women is most commonly associated with placement in life and is an act of resignation and hopelessness as the largest group of Americans who attempt suicide are housewives. These women often feel alienated from society and mistakenly believe their lives serve no significant purpose.

Though women have suffered from many types of illnesses throughout the years, the common trends persist: women’s madness stems from male attempts to maintain power, and contemporary mental illnesses are a result of years of oppression.

Thus, woman is not naturally the weaker sex. Society and man have made her so.

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If You Go

What: F-M NAMI Support Group
Where: Atomic Coffee, Downtown Fargo
When: 1st Tues of month, 7:30pm
Info: Jana Tronier, 701.541.1755