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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Christ_empowered on September 9, 2015, at 12:58:38
I mean, the more mentally ill amongst us. The thing about my "schizophrenia..." its apparently severe Bipolar I, and treated as such. But my lil town has declared me "schizophrenic," so I'm in that role whether I like it or not. Sigh.
The state mental hospitals are gone. Private long term care facilities are rare and very $$$, out of reach. Group homes around here are for people who would otherwise be in the back wards of a hospital.
So, I live with my people. I feel safe. When you're stigmatized, its good to have people who can protect you. My people "moved up in the world," so I get a lil more leeway and freedom, which makes people around here angry. "Uppity mental patient..." that's me, apparently.
Ugh. And the hospitals...well, the state funded one is actually better than most of the private ones, but they mostly deal w/ involuntary commitments and they have a shortage of space. In and out...you're now on Risperdal Consta, hooray!
Its not terrible...I could be living in abject poverty, being both tormented and oppressed by the dual burden of being "poor wh*t* tr*sh" and "schizophrenic." No freedom, no rights, "Psychiatric Slavery" at its finest.
I've been spared that, but...I get very little social interaction. I feel like I'm smothered in stigma.
I'm venting. :-)
Have a nice day.
Posted by SLS on September 9, 2015, at 15:44:24
In reply to where do we go?, posted by Christ_empowered on September 9, 2015, at 12:58:38
> I'm venting. :-)
You have a lot to vent about. :-(
> Have a nice day.You, too.
- Scott
Posted by Chris O on September 13, 2015, at 0:59:03
In reply to where do we go?, posted by Christ_empowered on September 9, 2015, at 12:58:38
Vent away!
Sounds like a challenging situation, to put it mildly. I empathize with you, I think.
I am completely broken by my severe anxiety disorder (or whatever the hell I have), but still can be highly expressive, critical, analytical, and seemingly "functional." I believe this irritates my wife greatly as she does not believe I am as disabled as I describe myself being. But I am. It's far worse than she realizes, really.
Interesting that people around you (your townspeople, as you call them) are "angry." That must be particularly irritating and painful. I have felt that way, too--that people think I am getting a "free pass" for not working as hard as they do (or something like that) because of my "anxiety disorder." Like I'm faking it and I want it to be here with me. Like I should not be allowed to be able to live any kind of dignified life if I am truly mentally ill. Right.
Chris
Posted by Christ_empowered on September 13, 2015, at 21:25:19
In reply to where do we go?, posted by Christ_empowered on September 9, 2015, at 12:58:38
For me, I think its control issues. When I was young, my people were working class, intellectual bohemians. By the time I hit HS, they were "rinky dink middle class" and "respectable" (other peoples' words, not mine). Now they're...I dunno. I mean, they're "comfortable," but I don't know...is that upper middle class? lower rungs of upper class? I dunno. Anyway, this area is southern, very class conscious, everybody is "supposed to know his/her place" (especially me, apparently), and so...Basically, I was doomed. I was regarded as "uppity" just because I went to (the wrong) college (state school overrun w/ affluent kids and boarding school brats..I didn't know that till I got there). When I left school, the town swooped in on me. After my first (disastrous) hospitalization, all Hell broke loose...for me.
So, now, 10 years after hospitalization #1 and after years of torment--HIPPAA violations, electroshock (not voluntary, of course), being called "poor wh*t* tr*sh," etc.--I'm back with my family. I get disability, they "take good care" of me, we live in harmony and I feel safe here. And the townies...
..not happy. Men, in particular, seem to need to control me. Part social class issues, part mental patient stigma, part homophobia, part...I dunno...weirdly misogynistic (a smart queer is, I suppose, like an "uppity woman" 'round here). Sad times. At least my people can protect me :-) .
It got ugly..there's been a court case (ugh). My parents got me a good attorney, so things weren't terrible for me. Anyway, a "mental patient" from a supportive, protective, upper-middle class family w/ a good attorney and my reputation (which was ruined, in large part, by the ex-shrinks) is apparently...a "trouble maker" and "uppity."
Hooray!
Posted by Lamdage22 on September 15, 2015, at 15:39:06
In reply to Re: where do we go?, posted by Christ_empowered on September 13, 2015, at 21:25:19
At least you have your family on your side!
Its very important.
This is the end of the thread.
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