There are varying forms of what may be referred to as "mental illness" & there are varying degrees. This is such a taboo subject, often evoking such shame that many who suffer with it go undiagnosed & untreated. The other side of the coin is that the sufferer is treated but tries to hide or deny he or she has a problem. How do I know you ask - because I am one of the many whom I now write about. Not only that, but my mother suffered from severe post-partum depression & also paranoia to such a degree she was briefly hospitalized. This fact was hidden from me until I was in my mid 20s.
Depression, anxiety, agoraphobia, paranoia, manic depressive, bi-polar, these are not just all imagined problems or other such perceived trivial nonsense. These, & many other disorders too numerous to mention, often lead a downward spiral to physical symptoms as well, causing the overall problem to become much more severe. Many physical symptoms, including pain, stomach/digestive problems, hives, headaches, can be derived from emotional stress & mental illnesses.
I sat in my doctor's office, looking down, fidgeting, fearful to admit to her what I had been feeling. This is a doctor I trust with my life, literally, & have seen for many years. I envisioned big burly men outside the exam room in white scrubs ready to toss a straight jacket on me & cart me off to a rubber room. I was terrified I'd be committed against my will. Yet, I had even felt like I maybe should commit myself with all the bizarre thoughts that had ran through my mind lately. Gratefully, my doctor understood, she also said she felt much of this could be due to the medication changes that I am going through. I had also realized this could be a possibility, but wasn't sure how much of my problem could be blamed on that. I had sat explaining what I had felt & even admitted I couldn't describe all of it. I had anxiety, paranoia, fear of leaving my house, opening mail, answering the phone, thoughts of suicide; even though I wouldn't follow through I was obsessing on it to the point of planning. I've felt so useless, such a burden on my family, it was a very devastating departure from the strong, independent woman & mom I once had been. It is important to note I am not the only one who suffers due to my problems; sadly my family suffers too, like dominoes lined up to topple over.
Luckily, I took the necessary step to seek help. I admitted my feelings & fears to my physician & we made some beneficial medication changes. I hate taking pills with a passion, but I do so knowing that they help me function better than I am able to without them. Many who suffer as I do or worse, get to feeling better & believe they no longer need the medicine, they are fine without it. I've fallen into this trap myself. Unfortunately that just starts the downward spiral all over again. I'd like to believe I can be "normal" without medication but sadly, that isn't the case. I have to take medicine for physical ailments as well as my state of mind. I find it comforting & interesting to note that the definition of "normal" is " the average of the general public" & that now it is more of a rarity to find a fully functioning adult not on medication for something than it is to find those of us who are. There are other holistic methods that help as well - therapy, counseling, meditation or prayer, acupuncture & more. I want you all to know I am not a pill-pusher / endorser, but I do feel there should be nothing to be ashamed of in taking a medication that helps you. Should a diabetic be ashamed to take insulin? Of course not! Neither should a person with a mental illness be ashamed in seeking help. If we work together to bring this all-encompassing issue to light rather than closeting it as our society has done for so long, then maybe more will be done to get help to more people who need it - without fear & without shame.
I surely agree with you dear
Way too much mis-information out there regarding mental illness.
No one should ever have to hang their head in shame for trying to get treatment and take their meds.
I was only 7 yrs old whey my older sister was diagnosed with Paroniod Schitzophrenia (sp). Our family went through hell in the early 70's when she became ill. We were austricized and booted out of our church, because pastor and a large group of people insisted she was on drugs. They never even apologized when they found out she was actually sick either.
My mom worked hard to educate the whole family about my sister, I remember having to go in and sit through appontments that my mom had made for her doctor to explain her illness to the rest of us, so we would understand her better. My sister has suffered so badly for the past 35 yrs, her health is failing, as she's been on mass quantities of meds since she was a teen, she been in every mental hospital in the northwest. It's just a sad situation.
both my other sister and mother are treated for depressive issues and I have a few nieces that also have manic depression problems. So yes, I understand and agree with you.
When I came down with the chronci pain problems, I had been under a great deal of stress after my son had died and I'm now positive that the stress of his death is what caused my health in part to fall apart. But I thought for certain that I would be sinking into a deep dark depresssion, but fortunately I've not and I can honestly say, that it's only by the grace of God, that I'm not. there is just no other explanation.
I will say that through all of this pain and the grief of loosing my son and my normal life, I've had some very dark days, but I've always told myself, if it goes on for more than a few days, then I'm getting in and getting some medication. I'm not ashamed anymore and I refuse to feel guilty that I require medications to live. Just as you say about a diabetic or a person who suffers from seizures? they are not considered addicts or weak and neither should we.
The only thing we should be ashamed of, is if we choose to refuse the medications that we help us be a much happier person and kinder to our families. (((((I have one of these in my family too)))))) This person is so angry and cruel to his family and it is so rediculous for him to not take medication. It's the saddest thing I've ever seen. Just because his generation views mental illness as a shameful illness.