What's worse - being mentally ill / insane, or being mentally retarded?

[Anonymous]

What mental disorders are the worst? Mental illness (Insanity/Lunacy/Madness), or Mental handicap/retardation?

Mental Illness / Insanity (Neurosis, Schizofrenia, Psychopathy)

Mental retardation (Cretenism, Moronism, Idiotism)

Don't know/see the results

[lePoissonRouge]

From a subjective perspective, I would have to say retardation is preferable to a mental illness. I can't help but imagine a mental illness being constant torture; if you're "mentally challenged" though, I feel like you're more likely to not care about a lot of things and just be able to enjoy life as you have it (assuming you don't have a terrible family that beats you with soap bars in a pillowcase...). Idk, it is a tough question. Especially since those who have severe retardation can't always let you know how they feel, so all you can do is make assumptions.

[Asker]

Yes, but mental illness can be cured in many cases, while retardation can't... intellectual disability is a birth defect, genetic disorder.

[lePoissonRouge]

Well mental illnesses can't really be cured, only treated. They're genetic as well, so it really is a tough question to ask and even tougher to answer. They're actually very similar in nature, but I would think that with certain kinds of retardation you wouldn't really be aware of it, whereas you're usually cognizant enough to be aware of your mental illness. That's just how I feel though =/ It's such a broad subject that there are infinitely many arguments and counter arguments you could make.

[Asker]

Well, intellectually disabled people are born with their retardation, but people get mental illness later, during their life... and it doesn't have to be genetic, some people just get "crazy" because of stress or depression. Nevertheless, they are not the same, "crazy" people have normal intelligence, but they are insane, so they live in their own fantasy world, however, some treatments can help them to function in a society (of course - not all of them)... on the other hand, retarded people can't "upgrade" their intellectual abilities with any treatment.
But I understand your perspective, it's tough to have any of these disorders :(

[Anonymous]

Being retarded is probably worse, because there is no remedy for intelectual disability, and mean people always mock them :(

[JustinCaseUDontKnow]

It's rough having both learning disabilities , mental illnesses
cause so many people more advance , have a hard time
understanding someone i know from experiences there
is things that I don't know but it helps cause I'm learning
i just wish my parents would of got me help years ago
and even put me in special education classes in regular
classes i had it hard but i have learn to accept things

[Anonymous]

I guess, retarded people can be very friendly, like Forrest Gump, while mentally insane are not, they are often crazy and violent like Joker (Batman's enemy).

[Anonymous]

They are all beautiful people