Posted by Gracie2 on May 29, 2002, at 9:39:09
In reply to Re: Public disclosure of psychiatric disorder » Gracie2, posted by Cece on May 29, 2002, at 2:47:53
If I had a job that required carrying a firearm or transporting people, I could understand the neccesity of disclosing a history of psychiatric illness and all medications. But I don't do anything like that.
Again, it wouldn't be such a big deal if people weren't so prejudiced. Awhile back I watched a movie on Lifetime about a woman who was being treated for bipolar disorder. She decided to stop taking lithium when she got pregnant because she didn't want to risk harming the baby with medication. When she stopped taking lithium, she turned into a screaming lunatic. She hallucinated, attacked people, often had to be tied down in 4-point restraints, and had to be fed through an NG tube because she refused to eat for days on end (which makes no sense because if she stopped treatment for fear of harming her baby, why would she starve it to death?)
This stupid movie upset me for the ideas it was conveying to the public...that bipolar disorder is a rabid disease that causes violent, foaming madness. What a crock.
Anyway, as long as people have these ideas, depression or mental disorders must remain a private affliction. I know that our employers would like to know everything about us, but that's tough. As far as I'm concerned, they must continue to judge us on our work performance instead of trying to weed us out before there's "trouble".
-Gracie
poster:Gracie2
thread:24808
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020523/msgs/24839.html