"We like you better on medication" (may be triggering)

@justanotherguy, thank you for sharing your story. I know there are plenty of people who can relate. I'm not sure if it's the same for you, but it makes me feel small and like I don't know anything when people say that sort of thing to me. Like other people know better or something.

You have every right to ask questions ❤️ I'm not sure if you've seen the thread on How do you advocate for yourself in the MH system?

Thanks @Former-Member

Yeah, it all becomes a bit surreal after a while when you're told the same stuff over and over and none of it makes any sense. It's like when you start having 'mental health' issues they are trying to keep you confused. I found a great psychologist that helped me navigate the system and advocate for myself, I am lucky that I'm reasonably intelligent and articulate and also patient (very important). If you can reach a place of calmness you can then start to see things from other's perspective and try to understand why you are being treated so unfairly and try and address some of their concerns, otherwise you will be stuck in an endless loop with them and they will always have the upper hand.

Hi @justanotherguy

I agree that there is an 'applecart' and many people in that cart do not like you upsetting it! I think that's why peer workers in hospitals and community mental health services can often be feared by the likes of other more 'traditional' staff. I had peer worker friends who would be looked at very very warily by these staff. Because peer workers were there solely for the participants/patients/consumers. Their role is to challenge the traditional way of mental health treatment and advocate for and with the participants/patients/consumers.

I sat through many meetings cringing as I heard words like non-compliant, treatment resistant, delusional, etc being bandied around. Totally agree that you have to ask questions. And I really hope one day things change.

Thanks @hanami

There are 2 broad camps of 'mental illness' - people suffering from milder complaints like anxiety and depression who want to be part of the applecart and are normally very compliant with treatment - the mental health service loves these people and always treats them well, because they maintain the status quo. Anyone beyond this is seen as some kind of 'threat' and treated as such, that's why you are basically punished by the system, and it is punishment, there's no other word to describe it. It would be funny if it wasn't so real and harmful to so many innocent people. When I started asking really basic questions about my treatment the defensive walls went up and I was basically attacked for even daring such a thing. I think the mental health system and society in general is so broken at the bottom end there's not much that can be done about it except for advocate for people and help them survive it as best they can.

Upsetting apple carts... lol Thanks for that @justanotherguy

Am collecting apple metaphors ... lol

I am another who mostly was compliant but when I asked any questions it was all a big "no go".

I guess the reality checking partly comes down ... to recognising the limits of so called "loved ones", and that heaps of people are pushing their barrow as hard as they can ... just for the sake of it ....

Take Care

I love that @Appleblossom, people are pushing their cart as well as they can. ❤️

This is what I think. I think there's a lot of talk about self-advocacy coming from the systems these days. As a self, I find some progress using the advocacy the system hardly ever talks about. System advocacy. i.e: Helping the system help you. Or, calling their bluff with purpose-driven, data-based objectives.

It's the best way to get good work out of good people. It reminds.

It also sends a message to would-be-predators that they are dealing an organized individual. (I saw a youtube thing where they surveyed muggers. Apparently most of them don't like to target people that look organized. It reduces the element of surprise factor or something. Conclusion: Organization is a kind of psychic shield (plus more organizey))

Thanks @Appleblossom

You sure find out who your real friends are when you are diagnosed with a mental illness, and your loved ones will suddenly start to tell you what they REALLY think of you. That was the biggest surprise, and really hard to take. It's so sad my closest family members have been the most destructive for me, as most other people seem ok with me and are generally supportive. Some people sure do 'push their barrows' hard, right over the top of you.