Posted by yxibow on December 11, 2008, at 15:57:46
In reply to you ever have people in your life that are....., posted by obsidian on December 10, 2008, at 23:23:17
> concerned about whether or not you're "still on your meds?"
> god, that's never a good question to hear is it?
> "are you still taking your meds?"
> I can't tell if people are over reacting or not.Hmm... I guess I was sort of tired... I didn't get the real semantics of the message.... as in you have people who know you have mental illness/biochemical imbalance, whatever you wish to call it, and automatically assume you are on medication and pester you about it.
Well -- that's different, no, I haven't experienced that I can say, but then I'm sort of isolated, the people that I am still in contact, when I see them, no, they don't really ask that sort of thing -- the ones who are most empathetic might ask about how I'm doing, especially if I offer my situation, but I haven't gotten nagging comments like that.
I mean other than they have seen me take medication before and have commented that I've brought the pharmacy in effect (I mean even I think sometimes I'm a walking pharmacy because of the polypharmacy of things), not to hurt me, but sort of with me -- I must admit at times I carry around like all my medications to parties or on trips instead of just a small supply because I have worries I'll get stuck somewhere and go into withdrawals.
(Which of course has a down side in that you could lose hundreds of dollars of medication -- note to self, don't leave things on tops of cars. Yes, I left a bag on top of my car and drove off and it fell into the neighborhood, fortunately a nice neighbor found it, and called just as I was driving to retrace my steps)
Anyhow that's a side tangent.
I dunno at the walking pharmacy joke -- I mean, I could say, want some? :) But no, I'm not trying to be sarcastic in this post.
I think that it can make someone's identity feel like they're only mentally ill and not all the other qualities that they have and can offer their friends.But then again that's a common feeling for people regardless of such questions, as to how to define themselves beyond their illness, so I imagine that the reaction for someone who does have an illness might be different if they already feel that way.
Its hard to say completely its nobody's business, since the only reason they would ask that is presumably you've confided with them, but if you hear it a bit too often, why not just say that, yes I'm under control of my situation, thank you, and in some polite fashion say, oh I don't know.. hmm...
that it isn't necessary to ask, as we can see that I'm doing better and I have more functionality and control over my illness, thank you.
For example.
-- just a thought
-- Jay
poster:yxibow
thread:868016
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081204/msgs/868131.html