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In reply to the discussion: Medicine's big new battleground: does mental illness really exist? [View all]rox63
(9,464 posts)There are organic brain disorders that cause serious disability for those suffering from them, and tremendous suffering for those who care about them. And some of them can be controlled or the symptoms greatly reduced by use of medication and therapy.
There are other mental disorders that are the result of a combination of circumstance and genetics, and many of those can be greatly helped by either medication, therapy, or both. I have one of these, and have personally benefited from both medication and therapy. As a result, I have been able to live a relatively functional life, with some periods of great sadness, great happiness, but with most of my life landing somewhere between those two extremes.
There are also some mental states or disorders that are the result of circumstances, such as depression resulting from grief or loss. These are generally temporary, but the worst of the symptoms can be relieved by medication or therapy while the person works through the situation that led to their problems.