每日口說挑戰關於心理疾病的五大迷思 (5 Myths about Mental Illnesses)

【Transcript】

Hey folks, welcome back to the show. Have you ever met someone, or happen to know someone who’s constantly feeling sad or down with extreme mood changes while showing excessive fears or worries? Those are the typical symptoms of mental illness. Now, although we have come to a better understanding of mental illness, there are still tons of misconceptions about it that can have harmful effects on the treatment of those with psychological conditions. So, today, we’ll be discussing 5 harmful myths about mental illnesses.

[Myth 1] People with mental disorders are likely to be violent.

A newspaper in the U.K. called The Sun released an article saying that over 1,200 had been killed by people with mental illnesses in the past 10 years in England. However, that was only partly true, what they failed to inform was that 97% of the accounted deaths were from suicides. In reality, criminal behavior in people with mental illnesses is very small, we’re often misguided by news and movies telling us those with mental disorders are likely to attack people, while statistically, they are the ones who are more likely to experience domestic violence and sexual abuse.

[Myth 2] People can pull themselves out of a mental illness if they really wanted to.

Wow, this is just like asking people who suffer from depression to stay positive and think happy thoughts, some even believe that “they just want attention" or "They enjoy feeling miserable". Folks, when someone has a mental illness, that means he or she is ill, sick, and needs medical support. How would you feel if I told you to think happy thoughts when you’re having a severe headache? That’s right, so don’t be a prick by saying such ignorant things.

Mental illnesses often have a genetic factor that influences the preposition and chemical imbalances that can't easily be conquered by sheer willpower. So it could be very difficult to even take the first step by seeking help, and working up the courage to even admit to yourself that there's a serious problem.

[Myth 3] Love and support are the absolute cures to mental illnesses.

Therapists and doctors will always tell you that social support is a very important factor when it comes to the recovery process, but it may not always be the most guaranteed way to fix someone's mental illness. In movies, we might see a kid with mental illness at first but maybe completely cured in the end. It's a touching concept, but some things only happen in movies, if you expect this in real life, you'll be thoroughly disappointed.

They can be afraid of rejection in socialization. Although it's great having someone helping and supporting you along with your fight, showing that they care about you, a mentally ill person could have a hard time even believing that in the first place.

[Myth 4] Having a mental illness is a social death sentence.

Simply put, no it’s not. The awareness of mental illnesses and what causes them has more than doubled since the 1950s. Mental illnesses have become highly aware of and have become more acceptable, even more so than physical illnesses in some cases. Well, one thing is for sure, people without mental illnesses are beginning to understand what some people go through and are willing to provide help if they can. Ladies and gentlemen, now THAT's progress.

[Myth 5] You will be labeled as a weirdo.

This is a big fear when it comes to making the decision of going to a mental health professional. You know, we’ve often seen characters going for counseling and meeting with their therapists in many movies. But maybe in Taiwan or Asian countries, people would refuse doing so even if they suffer from severe depression. You know what they say about toothaches, when you feel a slight pain, just go see a dentist, don’t waste any time. Same thing for counseling, if you have too much garbage inside you, then you have to find a way to release it; a professional therapist or psychiatrist tells you the things you don’t even know about yourself and provides the help you need. So, instead of getting a label, you get a proper prescription to your symptoms with careful guidance to help you get better.

Well, there you have it, the 5 common myths about mental illness, are there more misconceptions or myths that you know? Leave a comment down below and kindly share with us.

【Sentence of the day】

Mental illnesses often have a genetic factor that influences the preposition and chemical imbalances that can't easily be conquered by sheer willpower.

【Vocabulary words】

1. genetic
relating to gene, something passed down from your parents in your DNA.

Ex: Down Syndrome is a type of genetic disease.

2. conquer
to deal with or successfully fight against a problem

Ex: He has finally conquered his fear of spiders.

3. sheer
Which means nothing except..

Ex: His success was due to sheer willpower/determination.


【Epilogue】
Alright, that’s all the time we have today.
I once read a book called “Genius or Psychotic”.
There’s only a thin line between the two, whether one’s ideas can be proved with scientific evidence.
If someone claims that a piece of stone has life, and it actually contains a big universe in it.
Sounds weird, but how can you be so sure that it’s not true?
If there’s something that only you can hear and see,
and people say that you’re crazy, how would that make you feel?
Seeing is believing? Maybe not always.
Respect each other, don’t judge, that’s how we really begin to make a change.
Let me know what you think about today’s topic in the comments down below.

This is Ken Miao, and I'll see you again next week.

舉手發問！例句中的preposition 拼法似乎應是pre position?
pre position：預先定位；前置，預先配置
preposition /ˌprep.əˈzɪʃ.ən/ n. 介系詞，前置詞

Mental illnesses often have a genetic(/dʒəˈnet.ɪk/基因的) factor that influences(/ˈɪn.flu.əns/影響v.) the predisposition(/ˌpriː.dɪs.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/易患某種疾病的體質n.) and chemical imbalances(/ˌɪmˈbæl.əns/失衡n.) that can't easily be conquered(/ˈkɑːŋ.kɚ/克服v.) by sheer(/ʃɪr/全然的) willpower(/ˈwɪl.paʊ.ɚ/意志力).
心理疾病通常是受遺傳因素影響，使得化學物質分泌失衡，而光靠意志力難以克服。

Hey folks, welcome back to the show. Have you ever met someone, or happen to know someone who’s constantly feeling sad or down with extreme mood changes while showing excessive(/ekˈses.ɪv/過度的) fears or worries? Those are the typical(典型的) symptoms of mental illness. Now, although we have come to a better understanding of mental illness, there are still tons of misconceptions(/ˌmɪs.kənˈsep.ʃən/誤解n.) about it that can have harmful effects(影響n.) on the treatment of those with psychological conditions. So, today, we’ll be discussing 5 harmful myths(普遍但卻錯誤的看法) about mental illnesses.

[Myth 1] People with mental disorders(/dɪˈsɔːr.dɚ/失調,紊亂) are likely to be violent. A newspaper in the U.K. called The Sun(太陽報) released an article saying that over 1,200 had been killed by people with mental illnesses in the past 10 years in England. However, that was only partly true, what they failed to inform(告知v.) was that 97% of the accounted deaths were from suicides(/ˈsuː.ə.saɪd/自殺n.). In reality, criminal(犯罪的) behavior in people with mental illnesses is very small, we’re often misguided(/ˌmɪsˈɡaɪ.dɪd/被誤導的) by news and movies telling us those with mental disorders are likely to attack people, while statistically(/stəˈtɪs.tɪ.kəl.i/統計上), they are the ones who are more likely to experience domestic violence(家庭暴力) and sexual abuse(性虐待).

[Myth 2] People can pull themselves out of a mental illness if they really wanted to. Wow, this is just like asking people who suffer from depression to stay positive and think happy thoughts, some even believe that “they just want attention" or "They enjoy feeling miserable(/ˈmɪz.ɚ.ə.bəl/痛苦的)". Folks, when someone has a mental illness, that means he or she is ill, sick, and needs medical(醫療的) support. How would you feel if I told you to think happy thoughts when you’re having a severe headache? That’s right, so don’t be a prick(/prɪk/笨蛋) by saying such ignorant(/ˈɪɡ.nɚ.ənt/無知的) things. Mental illnesses often have a genetic factor that influences the predisposition and chemical imbalances that can't easily be conquered by sheer willpower. So it could be very difficult to even take the first step by seeking(尋求v.) help, and working up the courage(/ˈkɝː.ɪdʒ/勇氣) to even admit(承認v.) to yourself that there's a serious problem.

[Myth 3] Love and support are the absolute cures(/kjʊr/藥物,治療方法n.) to mental illnesses. Therapists(/ˈθer.ə.pɪst/治療師) and doctors will always tell you that social support is a very important factor when it comes to the recovery(康復n.) process, but it may not always be the most guaranteed(/ˋgærənˋti:d/肯定的) way to fix someone's mental illness. In movies, we might see a kid with mental illness at first but maybe completely cured(治癒v.) in the end. It's a touching concept(概念), but some things only happen in movies, if you expect(期待v.) this in real life, you'll be thoroughly(/ˈθɝː.oʊ.li/非常adv.) disappointed. They can be afraid of rejection(/rɪˈdʒek.ʃən/拒絕n.) in socialization(/ˌsoʊ.ʃəl.əˈzeɪ.ʃən/社會化n.). Although it's great having someone helping and supporting you along with your fight, showing that they care about you, a mentally ill person could have a hard time even believing that in the first place.

[Myth 4] Having a mental illness is a social death sentence(/ˈsen.təns/宣判n.). Simply put(簡單的說), no it’s not. The awareness(/əˈwer.nəs/意識n.) of mental illnesses and what causes them has more than doubled(兩倍v.) since the 1950s. Mental illnesses have become highly aware of(意識到的) and have become more acceptable(可接受的), even *more so(更是這樣,尤其如此) than physical(身體的) illnesses in some cases. Well, one thing is for sure, people without mental illnesses are beginning to understand what some people go through and are willing to provide help if they can. Ladies and gentlemen, now THAT's progress(/ˈprɑː.ɡres/進步n.).

[Myth 5] You will be labeled(被貼標籤) as a weirdo(/ˈwɪr.doʊ/怪人). This is a big fear when it comes to making the decision of going to a mental health professional(/prəˈfeʃ.ən.əl/專業人員). You know, we’ve often seen characters(/ˈkær.ək.tər/人物,角色) going for counseling(/ˋkaunsliŋ/諮商n.) and meeting with their therapists in many movies. But maybe in Taiwan or Asian countries, people would refuse doing so even if they suffer from severe depression. You know what they say about toothaches, when you feel a slight pain, just go see a dentist, don’t waste any time. Same thing for counseling, if you have too much garbage(垃圾) inside you, then you have to find a way to release it; a professional(專業的) therapist or psychiatrist(/saɪˈkaɪə.trɪst/精神科醫師) tells you the things you don’t even know about yourself and provides the help you need. So, instead of getting a label(標籤n.), you get a proper(合適的) prescription(處方藥n.) to your symptoms with careful guidance(引導n.) to help you get better.

Well, there you have it, the 5 common myths about mental illness, are there more misconceptions or myths that you know? Leave a comment down below and kindly share with us.

1. genetic /dʒəˈnet.ɪk/ a. 基因的；遺傳訊息的 = relating to gene, something passed down from your parents in your DNA.
Down Syndrome is a type of genetic disease.

2. conquer /ˈkɑːŋ.kɚ/ vt. 攻克，攻取；戰勝；克服；征服；成功地登上 = to deal with or successfully fight against a problem
He has finally conquered his fear of spiders.

3. sheer /ʃɪr/ a. 全然的；純粹的 = utter
Which means nothing except..
His success was due to sheer willpower/determination.

【Epilogue】Alright, that’s all the time we have today. I once read a book called “Genius(/ˈdʒiː.ni.əs/天才n.) or Psychotic(/saɪˈkɑː.t̬ɪk/精神病患者)”. There’s only a thin(薄的) line between the two, whether one’s ideas can be proved with scientific evidence. If someone claims that a piece of stone has life, and it actually contains a big universe in it. Sounds weird, but how can you be so sure that it’s not true? If there’s something that only you can hear and see, and people say that you’re crazy, how would that make you feel? Seeing is believing? Maybe not always. Respect each other, don’t judge, that’s how we really begin to make a change.

Mental illnesses often have a genetic factor that influences the preposition and chemical imbalances that can't easily be conquered by sheer willpower.
心理疾病通常是受遺傳因素影響，使得化學物質分泌不平衡，而光靠意志力難以克服。

真糟糕，偷懶三天，今天來補繳作業…

Mental illnesses often have a genetic factor that influences the preposition and chemical imbalances that can't easily be conquered by sheer willpower.

☺Mental illnesses often have a genetic factor that influences the preposition and chemical imbalances that can't easily be conquered by sheer willpower.
心理疾病通常是受遺傳因素影響，使得體內的化學物質分泌失衡，光靠意志力很難克服。
【心得】大家都學習對他人多點同理心和對彼此多些尊重，我們生活的世界就會更美好。
■genetic [dʒəˋnɛtɪk] (adj.)基因的、遺傳(學)的；起源的、發生的
■conquer [ˈkɑŋkɚ] (vt.)佔領；攻取；征服；擊敗；戰勝、克服；贏得(觀眾、聽眾等)讚譽
■sheer [ʃɪr] (adj.)全然的；純粹的；陡峭、垂直的；(織物等)極薄的、透明的
(adv.)陡峭、垂直地；全然、十足地
(n.)透明薄織物；偏航、轉向
(vi.&vt.) (使)偏航、(使)急轉向[(+off/away)]

Have you watched Kdrama It's ok to not be ok? It seems that as long as you're pretty, rich, having something to be desired, it's ok that you're mentally unstable!

頭腦生病了，不是故意的。

Day 15
Mental illnesses often have a genetic factor that influences the preposition and chemical imbalances that can't easily be conquered by sheer willpower.

sheer [ʃɪr] (adj.) 絕對的：存粹的

Try to slow down the speaking path and pronounce the sentence precisely.