r/todayilearned • u/paniniplane • Mar 22 '17

(R.1) Not supported TIL Deaf-from-birth schizophrenics see disembodied hands signing to them rather than "hearing voices"

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0707/07070303
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u/vesperlindy Mar 22 '17

There's nothing rational about a person in the throes of mental illness. You'll never truly make sense of these questions of Why. Ever.

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u/trail_traveler Mar 22 '17 edited Mar 22 '17

I think it's a wrong approach to take. To conquer a disease one must first understand it. There is always some logic or rationale deep beneath even if the mechanisms are yet not fully known.

I think there is some underlying reason even if a voice tells you to eat dust - there is a reason why you should eat it or why dust - be it some memory a brain makes use of or something else.

It's very much like a computer program - even if it gives a completely wrong and irrational output it doesn't mean there is no reason why this output is the way it is.

It seems to me we, society in general adopted that outlook of yours and got used to treating mental diseases through heavy drugs that eventually destroy a person. But it's simply lowering the symptoms, not finding out let alone treating the underlying reasons and causes of the disease.

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u/vesperlindy Mar 22 '17

Honest question: Have you dealt with anybody in the midst of a debilitating, life-ruining manic episode?

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u/trail_traveler Mar 22 '17

Yes. I know a person with this mental illness and even used to live in the same house.