Thought #6: Not All Illness is Treated Equal

Thought: I mean this in mental health. We are all familiar with discrimination and oppression based on your mental health status but each illness experiences its own oppression within the mental health system. How we treat someone with depression is not how we’re treating someone with psychopathy. It feels to me that if your illness causes the typical negative traits such as anger, manipulation, low empathy etc then you’ll read medical headlines such as:

“How to Deal With a Narcissist” (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/emotional-freedom/201008/how-deal-narcissist)

“How Psychopaths Chose Their Victims” (http://www.psychologytoday.com/search/query?keys=psychopath&x=0&y=0)

“Stop Walking On Eggshells” (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/stop-walking-eggshells/201003/welcome-the-new-blog-stop-walking-eggshells)

I’m concluding that unless you have a mood disorder then the mental health system is going to shit on you. There is not enough understanding about other disorder in general (depression, bipolar and anxiety have been taking center stage for a long time) and it’s harmful and hurtful that when attention is paid to another disorder that it is all about the pain other put on them! Psychopathy, narcissism and borderline are legitimate DSM diagnoses are they not? If yes, they should be treated with the same empathy as the mood disorders! For narcissism, there is even a support group for individuals who have experienced abuse at the hands of partners, family or friends who have this personality disorder (http://www.narcissismfree.com/)!!! I have experienced much of the same idea with BPD. I’m not considered in pain, I’m considered a bitch.

 Schizophrenia has also been pushed to fringe but I am seeing a lot of awareness around this disorder as of late that is making me hopeful.

Stop and think about what it’s like to be the people experiencing the disorders that we don’t talk about. The disorders that many outside it need to “survive”. I can’t leave my brain. I’m stuck with my rages, impulses, negative views no matter what. Stop telling people how to escape me and start supporting how I can become a better person. The people who have the “mean” disorders experience pain too.

Thanks for the empathy and support....

(a longer thought lol)