Quote:
Originally Posted by MotownJohnny
I think the MH industry needs to stop treating patients like prisoners. I know that is how I felt after my first meeting with a psychiatrist. I went in looking for compassion and understanding, I walked out an hour later feeling like I was some kind of criminal. And my experience was "trivial" compared to yours. I don't want to even begin to think about what inpatient is like.
I can see the need for reasonable physical control of violent patients. Anyone else should never be subjected to physical control against their consent. If you are suicidal and WANT to be restrained for your own safety, I say fine.
But, even worse, there is no respect for personal dignity in the MH system. It's like, "OK, you're crazy, so who cares about your feelings."
I personally found my experience as traumatic as anything my father did to me in 18 years of childhood. And he did a lot to me, I have very bad memories of my upbringing.
IF stigma is such an issue, why does the MH profession itself engage in such stigmatizing practices.
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I am so sorry you have been treated like a prisoner
And please don't in anyway call your experience "trivial" compared to mine!! We are all at different levels of vulnerability and desperation for help. No one has a trivial experience when the people who are supposed to help do more damage. I had no where near the experience of dealing with an abusive parent.
My background includes addiction, but I was totally prepared for that stigma. With addiction the US incarcerates while the rest of the world rehabilitates.
My biggest fear in life is 4 point restraints. As a survivor of sexual abuse I never want to be held down without my consent.
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There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.
Erma Bombeck