Quote:
Originally Posted by faerie_moon_x
I remember when I was in the hospital for physical reasons they would ask what meds I'm allergic to and lamictle and abilify are on that list. Then they say "why were you taking those?" and then I say, "well, I have bipolar." They just look at me and say, "are you on meds now?" No. "Oh, okay, we'll get the social worker up to see you." Never saw a single hair on her head. >.>
Really, even medical professionals don't understand. I just figure no one understands unless they have it.
|
I find that a lot, and it's shocking. I'm a site guide for the world's largest nursing forum (Allnurses.com) and I've been doing a LOT of education on mental illness there in the past year or so. Not only because there's so little understanding of MI outside of psych nurse circles, but because there is probably more stigma
in health care than outside of it!
I think I've been able to change it a little bit on the site, because I see much less posting of statements like "MI nurses shouldn't be allowed to practice, they're not safe" and "I work with a bipolar nurse, and she's crazy!!" There's still a long, looooooong way to go, though.
__________________
DX: Bipolar 1
Anxiety
Tardive dyskinesia
Mild cognitive impairment
RX: Celexa 20 mg
Gabapentin 1200 mg
Geodon 40 mg AM, 60 mg PM
Klonopin 0.5 mg PRN
Lamictal 500 mg
Levothyroxine 125 mcg (rx'd for depression)
Trazodone 150 mg
Zyprexa 7.5 mg
Please come visit me @ http://bpnurse.com