Dusty,
Hey man I am sorry things didn't go so well. That is something I just
wouldn't have expected. Just about everyone has disagreements with
their parents over some things. You might just have to wait until you
are 18 to seek a medical evaluation. I have heard that some people
don't want their kids to get treatment for mental illness. They don't
believe in it. They withhold medical treatment from their kids. I even
saw a bumper sticker the other day that said "P$ychiatry Kills" and
something like "don't let shrinks drug our kids." One of the strange
things I have found out about mental illness is that for some reason
many people seem to think of it differently than other illnesses. They
think that it is some sort of personal fault or something or something
you could change if you really wanted to. It is an illness that is
sometimes difficult to see and understand. Some people just want you
to *snap out of it* and pull it together. I have had somebody slap me
a couple of times in the face durring a manic episode to try to get me
to snap out of it. It is like asking someone high on drugs to not be
high by their will. It is the same thing with depression. People will
tell you you are being rediculous and you need to stop being so
depressed about stuff. It is like they think you are behaving in a
certain way by choice or weak will when in fact it is a chemical
imbalance beyond your control. The other thing is that there doesn't
seem to be an objective test that will tell you for sure that you are
bipolar, like a blood test or something. The evaluation is subjective.
Some people don't believe in taking medications that affect your
mental states.
And like I said before, lots of people have preconceived notions about
what a person with a mental illness is like. Before all this happened
to me a few years ago I did. When they told me I was mentally ill I
didn't believe them because I didn't think I was like a mentally ill
person. The only information I had was what I had seen on TV and in
movies. The truth is that everyone is different and the illness doesn't
affect everyone in exactly the same way. I thought I had made some
interesting discoveries, had some great new ideas, and was having
something like profound religious experiences. When I tried to explain
and share some things about my experiences and tell people about some
theories and so forth, nobody understood and they thought I was crazy.
They forced me to go to the hospital. I was furious, defiant,
uncooprerative, demanded a lawyer, etc., then when I had to put on the
hospital gown in a locked room order to talk to a doctor, I refused. I
never threatened anyone or myself. Then they forced me to put the gown
on and forced me to take drugs. After they injected me with "I don't
know what" (they didn't tell me) I was so messed up I couldn't walk or
hold my head up. It was terrifying. I blacked out for days with only
vague recollections of a few things that happened. Then I was slumped
over drooling in a chair, helpless, hopeless, devistated, sad,
depressed, withdrawn, and filled with confusion and hatred. They made
me into one of "those people" with the drugs. Everything was taken
from me and I had no voice of my own that people would listen to. You
have doctors making choices for you about your body and mind without
discussing it with you or explaining what they are doing or why. Then
if you object, question, or don't comply they send in a bunch of people
to force you to take the medications (literally a bunch of people hold
you down and inject stuff into your ass) that mess you up and make it
so you can't think or communicate or they lock you in a tiny room.
Nobody talks to you about what is going on with you and they treat you
like you are inhuman. They wouldn't even tell me what it was they were
giving me. I was to just shut up and swallow the pills or get another
injection by force. It is a nightmare where you have no power
whatsoever, no rights, and nobody believes or listens to anything you
say. All of your freedom is taken away and you not have broken any
laws or done anything wrong except see the world in a different way.
So I hope you never have to go through what I have been through.
I think it is good that you told you dad you are having a problem.
Give him some time and try to explain to him how you are feeling. It
seems like he should at least listen to you and not make you feel bad.
That sucks man. Maybe you should talk to a school counselor about your
problem and the problems you are having with your dad if you can't talk
to him. I wouldn't just give up and not do anything about your
problems if they are negatively affecting your life. Sounds like you
are having a rough time. I hope things work out. I don't see why he
wouldn't take you to a doctor to get checked out. You might have a
medical problem. Good luck.
Dan
Post by d***@gmail.comWell this didn't work out good.
First of all, my Mom is Bipolar, so I didn't think Dad would take it so
hard. I approached him and told him that I thought I had the same thing
as Mom does. He didn't take it good, what-so-ever. He actually started
making fun of me, saying things like "What, do you want me to put you
in the fucking looney bin like I did your mom?". Then he got really
mad, and started yelling about my school performance, about me being
irritated sometimes, about my sleeping habit, telling me I should treat
him better than I do, and all kinds of stuff. This has been a pretty
crappy day, and I completely did not see that coming. I'm really lost
now, and I just give up on getting any help.
Thanks though guys, you really did help,
Dusty