Hush whispers, closed doors, and hellacious imagery have been the long-standing tenor of mental illness. The idea of mental illness has always been that of shamefulness and sensationalized discussions. And yet most of these discussions fail to analyze the negative and harmful effects of putting mental illness in the state of purgatory. Schizophrenia is the star of such blatant misinformation and sensational conversation, which has only increased from the studio lots of Hollywood.
Pop culture’s blasé attitude towards the depiction of schizophrenia, in film and television has created marred perceptions of this community. One could say, this is the go to mental illness for Hollywood; actors wanting to find a challenging movie role or a TV storyline in need of some liveliness. But with` the glamorization of the mental illness, what is the cost of placing schizophrenia in the box of acceptable crazy?
With any misinformed subject, stereotyping and stigma can follow. The misconception of schizophrenia is usually rooted in the misconception of what mental illness actually means. There has been no definitive way to classify what mental illness looks like or should look like. All mental illnesses are riddled with misperceived and misdiagnosed symptoms.
The Common Stereotypes of Schizophrenia
It is all too common to paint this mental illness as wandering vagabonds on sidewalks, mumbling to themselves. This stereotypical image is only enhanced by media’s perceptions and the public’s internalization of such perceptions. Here are some stereotypical perceptions of people with schizophrenia:
- They are violent and unstable
- They hear voices
- They talk to themselves
- They are crazy
Such myths can create unrealistic and exaggerated beliefs of inferiority and superiority.
The Common Myths of Schizophrenia
Myth 1: If your parent has it you will get it as well. Your genes can play a role, but if only one parent has the illness it is less likely for a child to carry it.
Myth 2: You can never recover from it. Schizophrenia is believed to be hard to treat, but it is not an impossible feat. The correct medicine, care, and therapy can be deciding factor in how one manages the illness.
Myth 3: You can’t find or hold a job. This mental illness can be unpredictable and take up much of one’s allotted time, however, it is not impossible to hold or get a job. One’s success involves the right schizophrenia treatments and environment to prosper.
Myth 4: Bad parental guidance is the cause. There is no scientific proof showing that parents are a factor in the cause of this mental illness. It, however, can be caused by trauma, drug abuse, and genes.
Myth 5: People with schizophrenia are not smart. There are cases of individuals with schizophrenia who have difficulty taking tests that involve the use of mental functions, which include learning, and memory. However, this does not show a lack of intelligence.
We need to look at schizophrenia as more than a Hollywood caricature. It comes with its own critics, but the star is always misunderstood.
