A review of the economic burden of living with a person suffering from anxiety disorders
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Economic Burden of Living with a Person Suffering from Anxiety Disorders: A Review
Anxiety disorders are a significant mental health concern affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Beyond the personal toll it takes on those directly affected, anxiety disorders can also place a substantial economic burden on individuals and society as a whole. This review aims to explore the economic impact of living with a person suffering from anxiety disorders, including direct healthcare costs, productivity losses, and societal implications.
Direct Healthcare Costs
Living with a person suffering from anxiety disorders can result in increased healthcare expenses. Individuals with anxiety disorders often require regular medical appointments, consultations with mental health professionals, and medication. These costs can quickly add up, placing a financial strain on families and individuals responsible for their care.
Moreover, anxiety disorders are frequently associated with comorbid conditions such as depression or substance abuse, further compounding healthcare costs. The need for specialized treatment and additional interventions can significantly increase the economic burden for both the affected individual and their family members.
Productivity Losses
Anxiety disorders can have a profound impact on an individual’s ability to function effectively in various areas of life, including work and education. Living with someone suffering from anxiety disorders can lead to substantial productivity losses for both the affected individual and their family members.
For the individual with anxiety, symptoms such as excessive worry, difficulty concentrating, and impaired decision-making can hinder job performance and career advancement. This can result in decreased productivity, missed workdays, and even long-term unemployment.
Family members also experience productivity losses when living with a person suffering from anxiety disorders. They may need to take time off work to provide care and support or may be less productive due to the emotional and psychological toll of living with someone experiencing anxiety symptoms.
Societal Implications
Beyond the direct healthcare costs and productivity losses, living with a person suffering from anxiety disorders has broader societal implications. Anxiety disorders can lead to increased utilization of healthcare services, including emergency department visits and hospitalizations. The strain on healthcare resources puts pressure on the overall healthcare system, potentially leading to increased costs for society as a whole.
Anxiety disorders can also contribute to higher rates of disability and reduced quality of life for both the affected individual and their family members. This can result in increased reliance on social welfare programs and public assistance, further adding to the economic burden borne by society.
Furthermore, anxiety disorders can impact the overall social fabric by limiting social participation and reducing community engagement. This can result in decreased social cohesion and diminished societal well-being.
Conclusion
Living with a person suffering from anxiety disorders carries a significant economic burden. The direct healthcare costs, productivity losses, and societal implications all contribute to the financial strain experienced by individuals and society as a whole. Recognizing and addressing the economic impact of anxiety disorders is crucial for policymakers, healthcare providers, and society at large. Investing in effective prevention strategies, accessible mental health services, and supportive environments can help alleviate the economic burden while improving the well-being of those affected by anxiety disorders.
