Posted by Michael Bell on January 2, 2005, at 13:36:52
In reply to Stigma, posted by hotagent339 on January 1, 2005, at 15:35:54
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Mental illness is nothing more than a physical ailment of the brain. It is no different from epilepsy, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart defects, problems with the lungs, etc. Science is just now catching up to that premise. Sure, childhood issues effect personalities, but I have no doubt that nature bears more effect on "mental problems" than nurture. The brain is an extremely complex organ. It takes time to figure out which transmitter/structural/recptor/hormonal disfunction is reponsible for specific psychological disturbances.Individuals - husbands, wives and families included - who still view illnesses such as bipolarism, schizophrenia, social phobia, depression etc. are simply just not enlightened. I know what you're going through is painful, but I think that the way people view mental illnesses is going through a renaissance of sorts in which the mass public is beginning to see that these things are PHYSIOLOGICAL and CHEMICAL in nature and not some sort of mystical defect.
Good luck.
I am on Topamax and Lamictal. I hate the stigma of being labeled "mentally ill" (by my in laws) and am on it for anxiety. They think I am on it for bipolar because when you google it thats all you see. Can anyone tell me differently? There has never been a formal diagnosis of anything. My inlaws and I have been fighting for a very long time and I have written some mean emails because of my feelings towards them, hence their calling me mentally ill.
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> And get this, my husband has also looked up the medications I am on and has concluded that I am bipolar. He has done his own search and thinks that I am mentally ill and agrees with his parents. I am a very high functioning person. I run my own successful business, run my household with a toddler, volunteer with 2 organizations, and recently finished college with a 4.0. Its making me so mad that these people are labeling me due to the medications that I am on right now. Isnt it possible that I am on them due to anxiety (which they have helped me tremendously in that department due to the amount of stress I am under!!!)
> thanks for your help. Happy new year
> Molly
poster:Michael Bell
thread:436389
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041228/msgs/436810.html