It's so much easier to ridicule, belittle or think less of something I don't understand. An open mind requires much more risk than a closed one. And risk is scary.

So yeah, people often dismiss mental health issues - but I don't think they do it maliciously. I think they do it out of ignorance and fear. Of course, what I'm describing doesn't apply only to mental health issues.

I have mixed feelings. I think a lot of it is ridiculous and does a great disservice to those who are actually suffering. It's like women who cry rape because they have morning after regrets doing a disservice to real rape victims or people who claim their 4yo has ADHD when all they need to do is give some consistent discipline. It hurts the general view of those who are real rape victims, have kids with ADHD, or are depressed.

Really good point. Thanks for articulating that. Having worked in child care for a few years, I can say from experience your characterization about ADHD is consistent with my experience. There *are* kids who really need it. I've care for them. And there are kids that exhibit similar behavior occasionally, and the parents jump to conclusions and go to doctors willing to supply them with "discipline" in a pill.

Similarly, I suspect docs are all too eager to supply "happiness" in a pill. So there are lots of people taking antidepressants who probably don't need them. I think so many in the medical community are lazy and/or heavily influenced by big pharma. Trying to talk something out, getting mental health services, examining root issues, etc. - all that stuff is inconvenient, time-consuming and tricky. It's harder. Of course, sometimes you can't even get to that point unless you have meds to stabilize. Sadly, the meds can be seen as the be all/end all solution. I think attitudes are flipped because of ignorance, laziness, and an unwillingness to get involved. I believe medication should be viewed as a STARTING POINT to getting someone in a place where they can get the help they need (counseling, etc.).

I've been around and around with this most of my life. I feel like people are often looked down upon when they are open about their issues and sometimes it is very hard to get acceptance and help.

I was put in therapy in my teen years when my parents found out a family member had abused me when I was in grade school. I was a wreck from keeping that secret for a long time. Lots of talking about it seemed to help me more than the many different antidepressant meds I was put on. No I am completely fine with talking about it and don't have any bad feelings about the situation. I haven't taken an anti depressant in years and in general, haven't been happier. I was also diagnosed with ADHD when I was 20, explained my highschool grades but I never received any treatment. I have a hard time focusing often but it isn't ruining my life.

My issue now is anxiety. It seems to have developed this over the past few years and since having my son, it's gotten worse. I would say it's to the point now where it is out of control. I tried talking to my doctor about it a few weeks ago but had that, "you are just going to think I want drugs" feeling during our visit. He told me there wasn't anything he could do and I would need to see a specialist. REALLY? For anxiety? Any other person I know with anxiety issues is treated by their GP. I woke up in a great mood this morning and by the time I was leaving for work, I was short of breath, shaking and crying for no reason other than I was about to start my day. This has honestly been the hardest to deal with and in my opinion, the hardest to get help with.

Anyway, My friends and family are getting sick of me always being panicky and sometimes seclusive and my doctors are not being helpful. I've come to the point where I think the doctors are only referring me so they can have a co-pay contest. I finally will get help after seeing 3 doctors and paying 3 different co-pays just to get to the one who IS going to help but I guess it's necessary.

Until someone has had one of these issues, or had a close relationship with someone who has, it is very hard to have an opinion.

I had a laproscopy, hysterscopy, D&C, and Novasure last Wednesday. They removed a cyst the size of my fist and my left ovary. The doc gave me 800 mg of ibuprofin and Demerol. Neither really did much for me. By the weekend my left claf started hurting. Monday morning I was in such pain it was 2nd only to back labor with my 2nd child. My toes were numb. I went to the ER to rule out a blood clot. (All clear - no clot) but the ER doc thinks it might be some nerve damage or something from when they did the surgery. He gave me Percocet and Valium. I've taken them morning and night since (as needed) and am finally not in pain anymore. I'll have leftover pills that I will need to get rid of. My regular doc didn't prescribe me anything nearly strong enough. I think he's the sort who doesn't like to prescribe pain killers. I fully understand that. There are a lot of abuses out there from the junkie on the street to Rush Limbaugh. But when someone needs something they should be able to get it without having to feel like they may be thought of as if they were the junkie on the street.

While hubby and I were in the ER there was a guy in the bed across from us who pretty obviously was in there for pain pills. He knew what he wanted and what dose and claimed "back pain" which is notoriously hard to fully diagnose. The doc told him he'd give him 800mg of ibuprofin and the guy got angry. Meanwhile I'm across the aisle in intense pain scared about a blood clot and all I have is that 800 mg Ibuprofin because my origninal doc was either worried that I'd become like the junkie or that I was exaggerating the pain.

I don't want to be numb. I don't want to be doped up. I just want to be able to walk and once I am I want to be off the pills ASAP. I have a job, a family, etc. I don't like feeling out of control. I just don't like being in so much pain that it causes tears either. Like the morning after regrets crying rape, junkies have created a situation for people who really do need pain meds where they can't get it.

I have to take a little bit of issue with this. Just because that guy across from you in the ER was there for pills doesn't mean he's any less of a person. Drug addiction is a horrible, horrible disease. Sure, there are a lot of people who make the choices that end them up being an addict, but that doesn't mean that at that point they aren't wishing there was another option. I've seen people go through terribly awful withdrawal from narcotics and it isn't pretty. Getting off pills isn't something that is simple or easy and it isn't just a choice to be a drug addict. That guy in the hospital was using one of his means to say sane. Sure, him, and people like him, may have made it worse for people who do need drugs...really though, who's to say he wasn't you in the first place. Maybe he started with some surgery that he needed something stronger for. He just didn't have the power or the foresight to only take so much. He started taking them legally and before he knew it he was addicted. To not have the drug makes you sick so you do what you can to not get sick.

I agree with the previous poster that said it is so much easier to belittle and ridicule than to take the time to really understand what is going on. Also Lucky saying that we don't fully understand the brain. Maybe if we did we could get "junkies" clean - which everyone says they'd like to do, or that the junkie themself should just do - cause it's so easy.