Posted by Dinah on September 8, 2002, at 13:51:31
In reply to Psychology vs Sin, posted by Tabitha on September 8, 2002, at 5:16:11
I was lucky I guess. My parents had good reason to believe in the reality of mental illness. They just refused to believe that I could have it. My mother thought that if I just prayed, everything would be fine. My father thought that all I needed was to go out and party more and everything would be just fine.
To their credit, when I started talking suicide as a reclusive and seriously depressed preteen they did bring me to a psychiatrist. Then spent the next year denying that there was anything wrong with me that wasn't caused by the other parent. And making sure I heard their version of what the psychiatrist said. Sigh.
Then I guess I validated their beliefs by starting to act as if I was okay even if I wasn't, and developing the false self that cripples me to this day. See they said, she was always okay, just looking for attention.
So even parents who have awareness of psychological illness are likely to deny it in their own families (not to mention themselves).
Sorry for the rant, and I don't even know if I adressed your question. :(
poster:Dinah
thread:1039
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20020829/msgs/1040.html