Erasing the Stigma of "Mental Illness"

As a physician specializing in psychiatry, I know thatremember that psychoanalysis preceded our modern
many emotional conditions such as depression andtreatment approaches which now have a much higher
anxiety disorders are true medical illnesses with asuccess rate. We currently have many safe and
biologic (physical) origin. Psychiatry has become moreeffective medications, which when used with or
and more "biological" in its diagnosis and treatmentwithout psychotherapy, help many people fully
approaches during recent years, but a very significantrecover.Another reason for the stigma is in the use of
stigma still exists against those who are seeing athe term "mental illness". The field of psychiatry has
therapist. This has become increasingly difficult toundergone many changes in the past twenty years.
understand, but it is a social stigma that is so veryResearch into the functioning of the brain and nervous
important to eliminate.Why does an embarrassment orsystem has led to the concept of a "chemical
stigma still exist associated with those who areimbalance" as the cause of illnesses such as Major
seeking psychiatric treatment? Why do people wait soDepression and Panic Attacks. In addition, Obsessive
long before come for help - to the point of becomingCompulsive Disorder, a condition portrayed so well by
nearly non-functional with their families, children andJack Nicholson in the 1997 movie "As Good As It
work environment?First, many people have a picture inGets," is also caused by a chemical imbalance.
their mind of movies in which psychiatrists areMedications were used to help treat the "Obsessive
ineffective listeners of problems of patients who areCompulsive" character being played by Nicholson.
lying on psychoanalytic couches. It is important to