Jim Cobabe wrote:
> My regular diatribe on this question-- > > Those of us who now need or have needed psychotrophic drugs for personal > maintenance face serious enough challenges in life, without having to > contend with unqualified people who presume to know all about our > illnesses and afflictions. And sadly, there is no end to the stigma > attached to any manifestation of mental illness. In spite of all the > talk denying that such unfair discrimination exists, anyone who has been > there has probably found himself more tightly restrained than by any > strong guys in white coats, strait jackets, or padded rooms. > Well said. I call these well-meaning critics "Job's Comforters." My least favourite (although, again, they're just trying to help) are those who insist that I try the latest non-technological fad, be it Tahitian berries or special massages, and when I tell them I've tried traditional medicine, their response is 100% predictable: "but this one's new and it WORKS!" I've never learned how to respond tactfully. > > When we need drugs to sustain our lives, a chemical that restores > balance to the physical function of the brain is not different from the > insulin that allows a diabetic to supplement the insufficient function > of his pancreas. There are any number of additional parallels. Yet > sufferers from mental illness are still a special class of people in our > society, reserved for generally unwarranted special treatment, and > generally unfavorable discrimination. > > Please never attempt to discourage anyone from taking the drugs that are > in the current array of defenses against mental illness. Many of these > drugs have unpleasant side effects that we would just as soon not have > to deal with. Even more important, we inflict the shame of stigma upon > our own selves, and taking medicine for such an illness seems like > admitting to yourself that you're something less than an worthy person. > Yet these drugs might well help some of us make something hopeful and > worthwhile from a life that would otherwise languish and be wasted in > despair. > > If you need such drugs, don't let anyone discourage you from taking them > as directed by your doctor. Always remember to take your pills on > schedule. > > Remember too that we are not alone in bearing such burdens, and don't be > discouraged by the idle talk of people that don't understand your > problems. We do what we must to survive, and face another day. To > endure to the end is our mission. Even if it takes a few pills to help > us get by. > > --- > Mij Ebaboc > > ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// > /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// > /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// > ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// > -- Marc A. Schindler Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada -- Gateway to the Boreal Parkland “Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of the time he will pick himself up and continue on” – Winston Churchill Note: This communication represents the informal personal views of the author solely; its contents do not necessarily reflect those of the author’s employer, nor those of any organization with which the author may be associated. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ==^^=============================================================== This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aaP9AU.bWix1n.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^^===============================================================
