marc6xSenior Contributor
Ongoing distress and fears about the police and Mental Health Authority
My current situation is an interesting case of ongoing and post-traumatic stress disorder which has haunted my life for the last 15 years. Previous problems with family, especially my father, existed in my life before this time, but are no comparison to the trauma I have experienced since then.
My antagonists are the police and Mental Health Authority with their ongoing use of enforced medicating. I am currently forced to take an injection of antipsychotics every month, even though from childhood and as a vegan and animal rights activist I am philosophically opposed to the use of drugs, especially those tested on animals, and fearful of the use of needles. My strong argument and belief is that the drugs are NOT a necessity and I have been most likely misdiagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. A complete absence of ongoing symptoms for more years than I can remember supports this view. My experiences of negative effects of the drugs include tremors, bodily shakes, headaches, and impaired creativity. Mental Health Authority express very little accountability for these negatives and are adamant that I should remain on the drugs. I have tried to negotiate a lower dosage but they have refused.
I am deeply afraid of the police, especially in the way that they dress, their checkered vehicles, their lethal weapons, and the brievous and presumptuous way in which they force their way into my property or place of residence. My parents have shown limited empathy for this perception and continue to side with the authorities, having being compliant and cooperative with them since inception. Due to the rudeness of police, I get the shits every time I see them and wish that I could blow them away. But I cant.
The actions of the police and Mental Health Authority have, indirectly, also costed me literally a very large amount of money. In 2015 I moved away from a lucrative sales job in Canberra (and elsewhere) in order to escape the police in that area. Sales in Brisbane have been far less rewarding and disillusionment with management have caused me to stop selling for a few years. I have lost at least tens of thousands of dollars by making the decision to purchase an apartment in Brisbane and fighting an uphill battle with sales in this location. The police and Mental Health Authority don’t care, and don’t acknowledge this at all.
By way of comparison, I want you to understand that I am affected by this stressful state every single day. It has not been an isolated case of abuse, way back somewhere in my childhood. In fact, the only concessions I have are that my childhood was relatively pleasant and that I was not arrested by police until my mid-20s. If it were earlier, it would have been even more devastating. Even so, as a result of their actions I have been placed at significant risk of suicide, depression and anxiety.
A few common responses to my case include:
- “We take the medication because we know that we need it.” The fool who said this did not pay attention to my words, instead focussing on his own experiences.
- “The police are there to provide a service. That’s why they’re called the Police Service.” I was somewhat encouraged by this response, but not convinced against their arrogance.
- “Surely there would be some organisations who would advocate for your rights.” No. I have dealt with Queensland Advocacy Incorporated and they are only interested in pressing me to comply with my treatment in order to get me off the Treatment Authority.
I have long held the ambition of leaving Australia for good, but my investigations into migrating have indicated that it may be very problematic and I may be forced to return to my home country at my own great expense. However, I am still hopeful and investigating these options.
