My Life With Mental Illnesses - 1655 Words

Autobiography I was born and raised in Kingston Jamaica in an area full of crime and less fortunate people. Growing up, I’ve seen a lot of people with undiagnosed mental illnesses. I’ve seen where there were no resources for people who were in need of food and clothes. Because of the poverty in the environment I grew up in, the crime rate was beyond control. Most of my family lived in what they called a tenement yard. A tenement yard in Jamaica is where a group of close relatives live and share the same yard. I lived in a house in a tenement yard with my mother, stepfather, half-sister and my half-brother. I also have four other half-sisters on my father side, two of them were born and raised in Jamaica in a similar environment like the†¦show more content†¦She taught us how to pray. My grandmother had 13 children and my mother is her second to last child with a different father from her other children. My mother father (grandfather) had seven children. With this large fami ly, I have lots of aunts, uncles, Brown 2 grand aunts, grand uncles, and countless numbers of cousins from different generations. Some of us are very close and know each other while some of us are distant and doesn’t communicate. We used to go to the country in the summer and on Easter break to spend time with my family on my mom father side of family. My childhood experiences has taught me a lot about family. The experience of living in the same yard has taught me to stick by my family no matter what. Even though food and clothes were scarce, my family would share with each other and if one person has food, then we all would ate. We learned to utilize and appreciate the little we did have. Things weren’t as civilized in my neighborhood, but I learned to appreciate the smallest things and be grateful for what we did have. My life experiences from my childhood has shaped my desire to go into social work. I believe that I could use some of my personal experiences to help others in this world. Some of my relatives suffers from mental illnesses and has no resources to get the help they need. They received no treatment and some of them eventually wereShow MoreRelated Mental Illness Essay1144 Words   |  5 PagesMental Illness Mental illness is an issue that hits extremely close to home. Both of my uncles on my fathers side developed schizophrenia in their 20’s. One of them, upon being diagnosed, committed suicide. This happened before I was born, but the fall-out is still visible in my family. The other now lives in a home for those with mental illness. He is on medication, which helps with many of the symptoms, and has been an important pillar in my life. There is a fair chance that either my brotherRead MorePersonal Statement On Child Abuse958 Words   |  4 PagesOur life experiences play a large role in shaping who we are as people. My childhood experiences influenced the woman that I am today. My father was abusive. He abused my mother, my siblings, and myself. Whether it was a domestic assault against my mother, slapping of my siblings, or a daily cursing session, our house has always been in turmoil. There were adults that knew about the abuse going on in my home, including teachers. Howeve r, none of them intervened for my brothers and I. I cannot helpRead MoreMental Illness : The World Of Sexually Transmitted Disease1266 Words   |  6 Pagesexperience mental illness in a given year† (â€Å"Mental Health By the Numbers†). Mental illness is something not to take lightly. In my personal experience, mental illness can be life-changing. My older sister suffered from serious depression, and still suffers from anxiety. To find out how many levels of psychiatric symptoms I have and what that means to society and people like me, I tested on a set of symptoms suggested by Walter Gove and Michael Geerken (1977) (Lauer and Lauer 2014: 389). My test isRead MoreBirth Defects in differenct Cultures1229 Words   |  5 PagesSince the 1960s, the federal government introduced ways that mentally ill patients could live outside a mental hospital, where they were confined from the general public, and live a normal life. Many communities and mental centers were built to allow continuous and efficient care for those patients from their homes. Yet, the question remains whether or not the whole world has accepted mental illnesses. Many believe that the mentally ill should be hidden from society out of shame and humiliation, butRead MoreMental Illness And Its Effects1052 Words   |  5 Pagesnor forgiving: mental illness. Mental illness is something that I, and millions of others, live with daily. While it can and often does prove to be an obstacle in life, it can also be a valuable learning experience. Because it affects so many people, I believe that mental illness should no longer be something that is swept under a rug. Instead, I think mental illness should be something that is respected and talked about with the tenacity that any physical illness is. Those with mental illness are notRead MoreEssay about What Is Abnormal Psychology? What Is Normal Psychology?1141 Words   |  5 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;What is Psychology? In my research of Psychology and its meaning I have come up with many definitions. To sum all of the definitions into one it’s the study ones feelings, thoughts, and their way of thinking and using all of there senses rather its cognitive, physical, or mental. Some other questions that came to mind during my research are what is normal psychology and what is abnormal psychology? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;What is normal psychology? Most peopleRead MoreMental Illness Is Defined At The Federal Level1130 Words   |  5 Pages Mental disorders can affect individuals in different ways. They can cause changes in an individual’s mood, behavior, and especially in their thoughts. This can greatly affect how an individual might relate to others, and also factor into the life choices that they make. Individuals who suffer from severe mental illnesses (SMI’s) are at a greater disadvantage than other individuals. Severe mental illness is defined at the federal level as â€Å"having, at any time during the past year, a diagnosableRead MoreThe Problem Of Depression And Anxiety Disorders1527 Words   |  7 Pagesconcerns college students face today are financial difficulties and lack of sleep. But upon closer inspection the main predicament comes into focus; mental illness. Mental illnesses detriment students immensely, with about ninety-two percent of college students suffering from some form of mental illness. The two most common occurring mental illnesses are depression and anxiety disorders. Ne arly twenty-seven percent of students experience some form of depression, which takes away all motivation toRead MoreBipolar : A Mental Illness1692 Words   |  7 PagesOne of my closest friends during my undergraduate career has a mental illness called bipolar. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, bipolar is defined as a chronic mental illness that causes a range of different shifts in mood, energy, activity occurrence, and the ability to function and carry out the day to day tasks (National Institute of Mental Health, 2016). Bipolar disorder is also known as a manic depressive illness due to the shifts in mood. People with bipolar often experienceRead MoreEssay on Suicide as Escape from Reality1315 Words   |  6 Pagesthe trends of suicide have continued to increase. Although this trend of suicide has many causes and can be difficult to know what the exact source is, the number one cause of suicides is untreated depression which may result from a mental healt h problem, personal life issues, or even genetic and family history. According to Befrienders, suicide rates have increased 60% over the past 45 years. Suicide rates can be divided among many different categories such as race, religion, gender, and age.