Thomas Szasz and Mental Illness

All through my studies i have always thought Dr. Szasz was completely wrong in say that there is no such thing as mental illness, that it is just a label put on people that are different from ourselves. But, studying developmental psychology i am beginning to wonder if there could be some truth to it.

The background: psychologists are finding that the brain is not fully developed by the age of 21 (on the average for most). And most mental illnesses are not showing until the age of 22 (again thats the average, illnesses like schizophrenia, bi-polar, borderline personality disorder and so on).

The Theory: Knowing that the brain is not fully developed until the age of 21 could it be that what a mental illness is is just different brain development, or abnormal brain development?

If this theory is tested and proved this would show that Dr. Thomas Szasz was accurate in his assumption that mental illness is just merely a label, and that there is really no such thing, it would really be just different brain development.

What say the court? ideas and opinions? Im trying to contact Dr. Szasz himself to find if he has conducted research about this and his theory.

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Permalink Reply by Anthony on July 8, 2012 at 9:17pm

You immediately jump to this guy is wrong because it questions your beliefs. Close mind doesnt allow for learning and wisdom. open it up and learn.

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Permalink Reply by Ñúlendur SilentMajhic on July 8, 2012 at 11:47pm

My mind is wide open. 25 years of experience with mental illness shows he is wrong when I apply my experiences to his theory. I suffer, many of my family suffers and I've worked with and talked to many many people who suffer.so I know this stuff inside and out. Personal experience equals as much credibility as a doctorate when your dealing with dealing illness. This isn't cancer where you can look at it, target it and destroy it in the body

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Owens on July 8, 2012 at 11:53pm

I can relate Sylvester. I feel a lot of it is misdiagnosed and at the end of the day we all suffer. Some things can't be fixed with pills or talk and we don't know why. At this point we don't have the answers and end up with more questions.
For that matter tell a psychologist you believe in magic and use it and see what you get. True a few may be open minded but on the whole not so. Speaking of magic, does it work because there is power there and a person has learned to harness it or does it work because a person believes it does and therefor makes changes both consciously and subconsciously makes changes to gain their desires and needs? Is there really a God/ess or did we make that up? Is it mental, organic, both, neither and can any of this be seen as a disorder?

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Owens on July 8, 2012 at 11:44pm

I see it this way..the study of the human brain is in it's infancy so to even suggest there is no such thing is ludicrous and perhaps even dangerous.

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Permalink Reply by Ñúlendur SilentMajhic on July 9, 2012 at 12:08am

Ya psychology is very young

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Permalink Reply by Ñúlendur SilentMajhic on July 10, 2012 at 10:42am

I think its extremely dangerous to suggest such a thing.

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Owens on July 10, 2012 at 12:07pm

It is Sylvester, especially when these differences can seriously impair one's judgement to things which most of us take for granted. To say mental illness is simply a label we put on those who are different from the so-called norm to me is like labeling epilepsy as demonic possession. It is just as ignorant and foolish as well as potentially dangerous. This sort of thing can prevent someone from seeking help.

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Permalink Reply by Anthony on July 10, 2012 at 1:34pm

and i would say you have a close mind. While i dont personally believe Thomas Szasz, your response indicates to me you have closed your mind to any information that goes against your beliefs, good job to you amanda and sylvester for being so close minded that you take a theory and turn it into something dangerous, next!

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Owens on July 10, 2012 at 2:50pm

problem with you Anthony is you didn't start this discussion to really hear what people thought as you claim you did. You are hearing what people think and not only do you not like it you insult it. Is it dangerous to suggest mental illness is not real..of course it is..do you know why? I do. can you guess what effect telling lay people there is no such thing as mental illness will have. Open your mind, think about human predispositions and think.

Hint: Orson Wells broadcast of War of the Worlds. Yes it does have something to do with it.