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Does a person need to be unable to take care of daily living tasks to be considered mentally ill?
A family member has had a big behavioral change recently which seem to be classic manic behavior but her Dr insists that since she is able to take care of herself and hasn't had any problems with her daily routine and isn't delusional or have hallucinations that she is just eccetric, not mentally ill. She lives alone and has no trouble taking care of bills, housework, etc. She has had these "behavioral changes" before and has had several extreme alchoholic episodes in the past also. Everyone blamed alcohol before but she's not always drinking when these "changes" take place. Her behavior has become bizarre, giving orders to people on the street she doesn't know, taking pictures of everything;strangers, the Dr, the car salesman, her old furniture when she got new, a need to meet and know people of importance where ever she goes, lying about events especially to boost her own self importance and so on.
Does anyone have any experience with any thing like this and what did you do?
She hasn't always been like this. People that have known her for years and years are avoiding her, asking what's worong with her, etc. I hate to see her alienating friends and family, people that have always been close to her. The dr only sees her one-on-one in his office, not interacting with others, which makes me wonder if he can be 100% sure and why I am asking if others have any experience with anything like this.
4 Answers
- *babydoll*Lv 61 decade ago
There is a difference between "unable" and "unwilling."
Do the people HAVE to be "important?" Maybe she is going through some other thing besides mental illness when her behavior changes. Her doctor might be right.
Some people are just born with personalities that do not allow them to get along well with others, and they develop traits that make them appear to be eccentric or annoying. Being a meddlesome or overly curious person is not enough to be considered mentally ill.
Sounds to me (not a doctor, but someone who has experience with this very sort of person) this person never knew the right way to socialize, the right give and take. They want what they want WHEN they want it, and otherwise they want nothing to do with others. (Pay attention or think back and see if I'm right.) If she regularly sees a doctor who knows what she does, and the doctor says she is fine, then she must be.
1. Going around taking pictures is a social thing, a way to be a part of people without actually conversing very long and getting to know them and do things for them. No long term relationship is involved or possible. 2. Ordering people around is a way to feel important. 3. So is lying. 4. A need to meet or know important people is also a way to feel like "somebody" without putting effort into really getting to know someone for a length of time.
You didn't mention if you are close to her or if she is quite elderly, but I'll guess not till you say otherwise. She really sounds like someone whose personality just doesn't allow her to make friends the correct ways.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
I don't see what the problem is! She has no trouble taking care of bills, housework, etc. - takin pictures and talking to people she don't know just makes her the odd lady in her town. She isn't hurting herself or anyone else, so let her be!!!
- 1 decade ago
Not necessarily. There are people who have physical problems who can't do daily tasks on their own, but their mental faculties are still in full bloom!
Source(s): My Own Experiences