Myths and mental illness and stigma, oh! my!

Some friends and I were talking in the not so distant past about stigma toward people with mental illnesses.  One said that she preferred “brain disorder” to mental illness.  She does have a point.  “Brain disorder” brings to mind a neurological dysfunction that is organic in nature, very scientific.  In our society, scientific means more legitimate.

 

Here’s the catch….lean close now, looking around, ducking low to whisper...Most mental illnesses are chemical imbalances that are neurological dysfunctions that are organic in nature….very scientific.  Oh!  Dare I say, oh I certainly may, legitimate.

 

 

Now, having said that, stigma does exist.  No denying it.  Yes, mental health field (which contains dual branches of mental retardation and mental illness) has come a long way baby.  But let’s not let our past gains eradicate our needs for future gains.  We got a looooooooooooong way to go yet.

 

Now, I can understand (not excuse, not justify---but understand) how it would be that the majority of the population might hold misconceptions of mental illnesses and those who have it.  There is a multitude of myths surrounding mental illness.  Hence there is fear, doubt, confusion, dislike expressed toward those who have mental illness.

 

Information, knowledge, education, experience all lead to deeper understanding of any subject.  Usually as we come to know more about a subject, we tend to become less fearful about it, because we understand what we are facing.  For instance, if I understand that some medication impairs comprehension temporarily, then I might not fear I have become stupid.  Or if I have experienced panic attacks myself, then I might not fear the woman in the restaurant who quite suddenly stands up and rushes from the building, knocking over obstacles in her path so that she can breath, gaining some control over her anxiety.

 

Now, medical doctors are trained, educated, have information, knowledge…I would think that medical doctors would be less likely to hold misconceptions than the general public.  My mistake, never ever assume, my folks taught me (apparently not very well, because there I go, assuming again).  Medical doctors can apply stigma (discriminate) just as well as anyone else can.

 

The catch is that usually if a medical doctor discriminates, it is much more harmful to the patient than if the general public does.  Why?  Because if your doctor thinks your input is not legitimate, because well, it’s all in your head, then any complaint you present is discarded out of hand as being not legitimate.  Hence, misdiagnoses occur, treatment becomes inaccessible, and conditions worsen.

 

Medical doctors must keep abreast of a wide array of disorders and treatments.  I like to be an informed patient.  Call me crazy, but that’s just the way I function best.  So, I tend to research in depth any condition, diagnosis, treatment, medication, therapy, and such that affects me and mine.  So I usually am well informed on the latest and most effective, as well as alternative means and methods of treatment regarding my disorders, conditions, illnesses.

 

SO, recently when I expressed my frustration with my doctor’s (lack of) treatment, I heard lots of agreement and similar accounts from my friends.  It occurred to me that while there are many who cannot speak for themselves, with persuasion, I might.  I might be able to express clearly my dissatisfaction and site specific examples of my doctor’s behavior, explaining to my doctor why this is not acceptable.  Perhaps it will affect the way he deals with future patients, especially those with mental illnesses.  Even if it has no effect on him whatsoever, at least I will have spoken, advocating for myself, and hopefully others.

 

As Forrest Gump states, “that’s all I have to say about that."