Stigma is unfortunately very much alive and well. I broke my toe several weeks ago in a minor car accident and went to the local urgent care center to have it X-rayed. Doc came in, went over my CC and then took a look at my med list. Suddenly he seemed more interested in the last five medications listed than what I'd come in for---read them off out loud as if to say "damn, you're on a lot of psych meds!"

Then when it came time to offer me some pain medication, he looked at me sharply when I told him I wanted Percocet because Vicodin doesn't do anything. He gave it to me, but I could pretty much tell what he was thinking. Well, hell, I may be bipolar but I'm not a drug-seeker, and in fact I only took a grand total of 3 of the Percocet because ibuprofen works better. But you know how it goes......you can be smart, educated, well-spoken, and the only thing some people will see is mentally ill.