Hacker News Reader

Comment by NoraCodes | Hacker News Reader

In your experience, why do mentally ill people not seek treatment?

As a general rule of thumb, the more seriously ill someone is, the less likely they are to realize it. Like every "rule of thumb" there are many exceptions, but it's true enough.

The other factor is that many medications for the treatment of psychotic disorders (psychotic meaning hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thoughts - NOT meaning wanton violence) tend to have unpleasant side-effects. If you are convinced that you are not ill, you wouldn't want to take them either.

Thank you, that makes sense. That said, though - doesn't that mean those people are making a pretty rational decision about avoiding treatment?

A rational decision is weighing the pros and cons. If you are blind to your illness (and the ramifications, for example having killed a family member you care about because you believed them to be a demon), then how can you weigh the pros of having those delusions resolve vs the cons of weight gain and potential diabetes?

It's not always irrational to refuse, but a total absence of insight into illness precludes a rational decision.

There is no “rational” decision when your mind does not work correctly. Subjectively it is but it is objectively both wrong (because false) and imprudent (because data is discarded which should not be).

I am speaking from experience as a depressive person (not actively sick right now): I know that I do not think objectively when I am ill, but I only know this when I am not ill.

You raise a good point; it's more complicated than my simplistic response above. Glad to hear that you are feeling better now.

Thank you! And thank you for your help to people with mental issues!

Being depressed is terrible. I cannot imagine what hallucinations must be.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com