# Mental illness is exaggerated **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 9, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522 "2013-06-09T03:18:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/361 "2013-06-21T15:00:52Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > No, you won’t. Aside from sounding like a bad Hallmark card, this blames sick people for their own problems. [Recent studies show that your attitude doesn’t matter when you’re facing a serious illness.](http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/emotionalsideeffects/attitudes-and-cancer) It’s too bad that this myth won’t die, but it’s obvious that some people find it comforting to believe that sick people brought their problems on themselves and that their “positive” attitude protects them from getting sick. It is a given that attitude matters in everything you do. It is common knowledge. The truth will never die. If you truly believe nothing and no one can help you and a negative attitude is the best then live it. I will not do so. I will not live a life of gloom and doom and call it truth. I have more respect for myself than that. Learning to love yourself works miracles for those brave enough to do so in the midst of negative minded individuals. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/362 "2013-06-21T15:03:34Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > That’s funny-His bio says that he is a _retired pediatrician_ that left the practice back in 1989, not a currently practicing “cancer doctor”. He hasn’t treated anyone with “love”-he just talks about it a lot. His bio says nothing of the sort. I can’t believe how twist words. I will pray for you. ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/363 "2013-06-21T15:05:32Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > No, you won’t. Aside from sounding like a bad Hallmark card, this blames sick people for their own problems. [Recent studies show that your attitude doesn’t matter when you’re facing a serious illness.](http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/emotionalsideeffects/attitudes-and-cancer) More accurately: recent studies suggest that patient attitudes probably don’t have much causal impact on cancer outcomes, but strictly speaking the jury is still out. For other types of serious illness the evidence is a little better. Coyne and Tennen (2010) — _Positive psychology in cancer care: bad science, exaggerated claims, and unproven medicine_, cited in your link — write > [@](#): > > This contrasts sharply with the quality of accumulating evidence demonstrating that life stress predicts progression of some diseases [e.g. HIV] even if not convincingly cancer and that stress dysregulates the immune system and compromises health in other ways as well. Of course the suggestion that “love” cures is just patently silly. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/364 "2013-06-21T15:06:47Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > It is a given that attitude matters in everything you do. It is common knowledge. Yes, your attitude matters in life. It does not magically cure you if you are sick. > [@](#): > > The truth will never die. Unfortunately it’s just as hard to kill bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/365 "2013-06-21T15:07:20Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > His bio says nothing of the sort. I can’t believe how twist words. I will pray for you. Not the one _he_ wrote, of course-I learned long ago that self-written woo bios are useless fluff. [Here you go.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Seigel) edited to add: While you’re at it, could you throw in a rain dance? I’m bored. ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/366 "2013-06-21T15:17:46Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > His bio says nothing of the sort. I can’t believe how twist words. I will pray for you. You’re actually sort of right, here. Kind of. He wasn’t a “cancer” doctor, he was a pediatric surgeon, which is close enough to pediatrician for me — he was by no means an oncologist. But his bio quotes Deepak Chopra (!): > [@Tupac Chupacabra](#): > > The title of his first book—LOVE, MEDICINE & MIRACLES (1986)—flaunted his disagreement with mainstream medicine. An MD who advised more love as a path to healing would have been in enough trouble. Opening the possibility of miracles was grounds for dismissal. The bio goes on to say > [@](#): > > [Exceptional Cancer Patients] is a therapeutic approach Bernie calls Carefrontation that helps patients interpret their drawings, dreams and images to express their feelings about the healing process. The physical, spiritual, and psychological benefits that emerge strengthen the immune system, a direct response to the power of the Mind-Body Connection about which Bernie has written and spoken extensively. This does come together to draw a picture of someone who does attempt to treat cancer with love. The whole thing makes me sad — oh, god, does this mean I’ll get cancer? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/367 "2013-06-21T15:21:36Z")
> [@Paranoid\_Randroid](#): > > This does come together to draw a picture of someone who does attempt to treat cancer with love. The whole thing makes me sad — oh, god, does this mean I’ll get cancer? I’m afraid you have Sad Cancer. And yes, I’m a doctor as far as I am concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/368 "2013-06-21T15:23:15Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m afraid you have Sad Cancer. And yes, I’m a doctor as far as I am concerned. Are you a symbolic doctor? ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/369 "2013-06-21T16:47:22Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Yes, your attitude matters in life. It does not magically cure you if you are sick. > > Unfortunately it’s just as hard to kill bullshit. Let me see if I got this right: Attitude matters in life but it don’t matter in sickness of any kind. We know that stress can compromise the immune system. However love, joy and happiness has no effect on the immune system. No again. Would a coach send in a player that believed he could not win. No People win because they believe they can win. You don’t start anything you know you are going to lose. Attitude is everything in life and that means everything. It determines how every aspect of your life will turn out. Abraham Lincoln said: “people are as happy as they want to be.” Samuel Clemons said: “some people think they can and some people think they can"t. They are both right.” Love is the most powerful thing in the Universe. It can start wars (Helen of Troy) and it can end them. Love holds everything together, without love families fall apart so do countries and civilizations. When people don’t love themselves they don’t care anymore and do things that hurt themselves like cutting their wrists, doing dope, getting drunk, mental breakdowns. People that love themselves never engage in this kind of activity. Self-dislike produces depression and self-love does not. Now love can be taught to those who don’t have it by those that do have it. It is not easy and it could be impossible if they believe the bs put out on this board. You have a choice to love or not love. Choose wisely. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/370 "2013-06-21T16:53:04Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Let me see if I got this right: There’s a first time for everything…in theory at least. When was Bernie Siegel a cancer doctor? Did he or did he not retire back in 1989 as a pediatric physician? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/371 "2013-06-21T17:16:21Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Let me see if I got this right: Attitude matters in life but it don’t matter in sickness of any kind. Apparently you can’t argue with what I wrote, because you turned it into something else. Having a good attitude is helpful in many ways, but it does not cure sickness. It’s a good thing to have, but it’s not magic. > [@](#): > > Attitude is everything in life and that means everything. No, it isn’t. That’s silly and glib. > [@](#): > > It determines how every aspect of your life will turn out. Of course it doesn’t. That’s an egomaniacal proposition. Attitude determines some of your choices and how you respond to what happens to you. It does not create everything that happens to you. The concept is silly. > [@](#): > > Abraham Lincoln said: “people are as happy as they want to be.” And Lincoln struggled with severe depression. That sums it up pretty nicely. > [@](#): > > Self-dislike produces depression and self-love does not. At best this is a tautology that states the problem but doesn’t actually tell anybody how to do anything about it. > [@](#): > > Now love can be taught to those who don’t have it by those that do have it. By people with training and sensitivity and great skill, yes. By any self-appointed schlub with a grin and a money-making scheme? I don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/372 "2013-06-21T18:20:59Z")
**lekatt** , if you really loved people, you wouldn’t subject them to this crazy ass bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/373 "2013-06-21T19:42:51Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > **lekatt** , if you really loved people, you wouldn’t subject them to this crazy ass bullshit. I think you are right, no point continuing. in this hostile atmosphere with people who are not willing to accept responsibility for their own actions blaming everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/374 "2013-06-21T19:47:15Z")
Burma Shave. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/375 "2013-06-21T20:47:14Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I think you are right, no point continuing. > in this hostile atmosphere with people > who are not willing to accept responsibility > for their own actions blaming everyone else. Clearly I don’t love myself enough. Or perhaps I love myself too much? I suppose the only way to know for sure is if I get sick. Then we’ll know that my love was miscalibrated. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/376 "2013-06-21T20:49:56Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Clearly I don’t love myself enough. Or perhaps I love myself too much? > > I suppose the only way to know for sure is if I get sick. Then we’ll know that my love was miscalibrated. Are you loving yourself right now? If so…what are you wearing? ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/377 "2013-06-21T23:36:51Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Would a coach send in a player that believed he could not win. No Would a coach send in a useless, incompetent player who did believe he could win? ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/378 "2013-06-22T05:27:18Z")
If a person cannot understand a simple concept that love is beneficial. Then there is no way in hell he can be taught to use love to improve his life. Ignorance doesn’t get any deeper than that. Hail to negativity. Negativity rules. Yeah right. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/379 "2013-06-22T08:54:12Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > If a person cannot understand a simple > concept that love is beneficial. > Then there is no way in hell he can > be taught to use love to improve > his life. > > Ignorance doesn’t get any deeper than that. > > Hail to negativity. > Negativity rules. > Yeah right. Worst. Haiku. _Ever_. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/380 "2013-06-22T10:15:42Z")
Dr. Fred Baughman has stated, about where psychiatric ‘diseases’ and ‘epidemics’ come from, "First you meet with the rest of the DSM Committee of the APA and, over cigars and drinks you invent a disease…not out of thin air but out of the troubled emotions and behaviors of entirely normal human beings, and call it a disease. Next you have bio-psychiatry researchers not really biologists, not really researchers or scientists, apply the tools of biology and medicine to these entirely normal persons (some infants and toddlers) and, in this way you create a scientific literature, that becomes the stuff of their scientific meetings. Next, their break-throughs regarding these diseases, not diseases at all become the stuff of press releases, and from their literature, of their text-books [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522.md?page=20)