This is a response to a post by Melody at BP Hope, who once had a doctor tell her that she needed to adjust (translate: lower) her expectations for life because she was mentally ill.
Melody, when I was 16 I had a doctor tell me that I should forget about going into music or theatre because of my "nervous state." Get this: I was diagnosed as a "hysterical neurotic." What kind of stupid diagnosis is that? In later research of sexism and psychology I discovered I was doing one thing right in my lonely teenage nights: giving myself "hysterical paroxysms," which I was sure I was going to hell for! But seriously, it took 22 more years before I finally received an appropriate diagnosis of type II bipolar disorder.
It is shocking that this dreadful, narrow minded thinking regarding "teh Crazees" persists into the 21st century. Apparently these so-called "professionals" would like to continue confining those with mental illness to attics and institutions. They don't even stop to think that maybe having a skill or profession that allows us to express ourselves in a positive way might be (gasp!) GOOD for us!
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They don't even stop to think that maybe having a skill or profession that allows us to express ourselves in a positive way might be (gasp!) GOOD for us!
Yes. They essentially equate us to animals, while forgetting that animals have similar needs too...
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