Posted by dandelion on December 3, 2003, at 15:38:51
In reply to Validated by a Med ID Bracelet?, posted by loni on December 3, 2003, at 14:00:51
Reading your post made me feel proud. I like that you are standing up for yourself and being true to yourself, and the fact that your illness is part of who you are. My family was the same way with the "hush-hush" business. My uncle had a "nervous breakdown" when i was in 11th grade (later diagnosed as Paranoid Schizo/Paranoid Personality D/O). When my mother found out that i had told my best friend, she was *furious* with me. "Our family business *stays* in this family."
Now, 10 years later, she tells me that my being depressed and full of rage is "just part of [your] personality". That kills me. It makes me feel as if she thinks of me as the "bad seed". And it seems as though she can't believe how open and honest I am with people about my taking meds, seeing a therapist, etc. Like it is something to be ashamed about. Personally, I'm more ashamed of her inability to accept her own daughter for who she is....
The other day I was talking to my sister and she said, "Can't MDs diagnose schizophrenia through a brain scan?" How great would that be, if mental illnesses could be "seen" on an MRI or catscan. "Look! There it is! That is the little sucker that isn't producing enough dopamine, serotonin,etc etc." Perhaps that would make things so much easier...telling people, "hey, i took a blood test, and it says i am depressed. It's a brain disorder. This *isn't* my personality. I *don't* want to feel this way"
Perhaps that would help in reducing the stigma a bit. Oh well, I got off track. Just wanted to say GOOD FOR YOU!
poster:dandelion
thread:286245
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031202/msgs/286275.html