Posted by Cam W. on March 5, 2000, at 11:37:59
In reply to help, posted by rose3700 on March 5, 2000, at 7:17:42
Rose - This is the reason that I fight the stigma of mental illness with an 'in-your-face' attitude. Giving your parents the benefit of the doubt, I would assume that they are woefully misinformed about panic disorder. They could also feel guilty, thinking that they 'caused' the disorder. I do not think that they realize the harm that they are doing. This is not an instance where tough love will work. The Zoloft can hold a panic attack so long, but when a big stress comes along, not even the Zoloft can hold off an attack.Your parents need informantion on panic disorder and also on stigma. Give them some books, articles, journal studies, diagnostic methods relating to panic disorder. This affliction is not one that I am most proficient to give advise about without my books and papers handy (they're at work). I am sure there are people who read this board that would have this information at their fingertips.
Stigma is a 'tough nut to crack'. I am really not certain how we change people's attitudes toward mental illness. Protest and pushing the issue seems to result in a rebound effect of increased stigma. Education programs do little; advertising campaigns even less. I think that the only way that we can defeat stigma is to find what truly causes them (eg turn them into medical disorders rather than mental disorder) and to find better treatment modalities to alleviate the symptoms. This would show mental illness to be no different, from a medical point of view, than diabetes. The Surgeon General's Report on Mental Illness has some good information on stigma and even better references. Stereotypes are difficult to break; they are laid down in childhood and strenghten from there.
Two Personal Experiences With Stigma Toward Mental Health
1) I was at a wake for a friend of my father-in-law's. A group of us got to talking about our jobs (they were all oilmen). When I told them what I did (essentially trying to keep people out of hospital and functioning adequately in society) a couple of these 'distinguished' gentlemen verbally 'attacked' me. They said things like, "Why are you releasing those people into my community. They are a danger to my daughters. Why can't you keep them locked-up, like we did in the 50s, we had no problems then. When I see them in my neighborhood, I call the police." My wife dragged me out of there before I caused a scene. As I was leaving I was able to fire off a last salvo. In a low voice, to the most militant of these gentlemen, I said, "I'm sorry to hear about T...'s death at such a young age (64 yr), but he had been depressed for years and refused to see the doctor. I guess he used alcohol as his medication, until it killed him." As, I turned away I saw a couple of them look down into their drinks. Later, I felt guilty, because I enjoyed feeling so smug at the time.2) Another time, I was giving a presentation on some aspect of mental health (can't remember the details) to a public group. The presentation was going great, most everyone laughing and contributing, until I mentioned that I was currently being treated for a major depression. Well, you could have heard a pin drop. I continued to present in silence, and as I slunk for the stage (to a smattering of applause) I said to myself, never again would I let that happen. Since then I have become a militant antistigmatist, using low key persuation methods backed by scientific facts.
Further to my personal experiences of stigma; I have written an op-ed piece for the Canadian pharmacy journal, Pharmacy Practice, that will appear in the March, 2000 issue (later this month). The article is 'Stigma in Mental Illness: The Community Pharmacist's Role'. I was told that they 'hacked it up' (space limitations), so I may be posting more complaints after I read it.
Thanks for letting me vent. Rose, keep in touch with us, as I believe many on this board have been through similar circumstances and can help you with this problem. You can e-mail me if you would like, and I will help as much as I can. Sincerely - Cam W.
poster:Cam W.
thread:26021
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000302/msgs/26035.html