Other people have already brought up my objections below, but basically—
I feel that I shouldn't have to not talk about my tumor. I should be allowed to be open about it, and not face repercussions about it at work or in my personal life, and I feel that I have the right to informed treatment about it. But I'm not proud of it, it makes my life miserable, and it doesn't make me a special snowflake. I feel pretty much the same way about my one-two depression-anxiety combo. I think it has much more in common with a physical illness than it does with something intrinsic to my identity as a person. It's something that I've suffered through and that's changed me, but that I don't want to embrace or celebrate.
Also, a lot of the Mad Pride types I've met are anti-psychiatry. I know why, and their criticisms are valid, but I've really only had good, helpful experiences with psychiatry. This isn't the case for all people with mental illnesses, or maybe even most, but it's my experience. I might have died if I'd listened to the advice of activist people and sought "support in the community" or not gone on meds.
Reminds me of the criticism of Fat Pride that people who do want to lose weight shouldn't be made to feel that they're conforming or letting down the side of whatever by so doing or so desiring.
There seems to be a streak of that within the Deaf Culture movement as well. I wonder how many people really would reject the opportunity to hear if there was a simple, effective low-risk teatment for deafness . And, in a situation where one's differentness involved limited mobility, discomfort or increased mortality as well it seems particularly perverse to blame someone for not being so keen on embracing it.
Oh God. The Evil Ex was one of those anti-cochlear people. He wore hearing aids, so I don't really see what the difference was, but I basically don't think that he had the right to decide anything for anyone else.
Cochlear implants are a lot different in that they are permanent and destroy any remaining "natural" hearing, and that's a pretty big choice to make for someone else.
May just be something in the minds of the people who are trying very hard to eat healthy and work out and still gaining pounds.
As well intentioned as an event geared towards giving up clothing that doesn't fit anymore on the basis that one should just give up trying to lose weight, it's hard not to resent that kind of discourse when you have no intention of staying at your weight.
Gah. There's already enough anti-pharmaceuticals/modern medicine crap and medication-is-a-crutch crap floating around as it is. It really annoys me when its suggested that I'm incapable of using or rejecting any and all available psychiatric techniques, or other treatment options as I see fit, that I'm being misled and manipulated by someone else. I understand that it happens disparagingly often but, I find it intensely patronising when someone implies its always the case.
Yeah, I got that a lot when I was on anti-depressants. Sometimes by people who wanted to push herbal crap on me, sometimes by people who seemed to want me to get better by my own bootstraps or die trying. Both groups seemed to reject my analysis that their line was frighteningly similar to that of right-wing types who argued mental illness didn't exist or that you could get better through Hard Work! and Perseverance!
I remember someone on LJ a long time ago putting up a story about how there are some patients for whom there is a time release dosage in their heads. I have a feeling that it was mostly bullshit or in the planning stages. But basically it was there so people did not go off their meds when they were getting better.
This person stated that it was BRAIN CONTROL and that mental illness was a myth used to control people.
It is a particulary bizarre and callous line of thinking. No, no those limping people are simply being lazy and slouchy or willfully supressing limb regrowth and should grit their teeth and stand up straight! Not to mention those molly-coddled diabetics who won't whip their own pancreas into shape....
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Date: 2012-06-25 09:36 pm (UTC)I feel that I shouldn't have to not talk about my tumor. I should be allowed to be open about it, and not face repercussions about it at work or in my personal life, and I feel that I have the right to informed treatment about it. But I'm not proud of it, it makes my life miserable, and it doesn't make me a special snowflake. I feel pretty much the same way about my one-two depression-anxiety combo. I think it has much more in common with a physical illness than it does with something intrinsic to my identity as a person. It's something that I've suffered through and that's changed me, but that I don't want to embrace or celebrate.
Also, a lot of the Mad Pride types I've met are anti-psychiatry. I know why, and their criticisms are valid, but I've really only had good, helpful experiences with psychiatry. This isn't the case for all people with mental illnesses, or maybe even most, but it's my experience. I might have died if I'd listened to the advice of activist people and sought "support in the community" or not gone on meds.
no subject
Date: 2012-06-26 04:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-26 02:01 pm (UTC)And, in a situation where one's differentness involved limited mobility, discomfort or increased mortality as well it seems particularly perverse to blame someone for not being so keen on embracing it.
no subject
Date: 2012-06-26 02:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-26 07:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-26 07:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-26 02:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-26 02:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-26 04:08 pm (UTC)As well intentioned as an event geared towards giving up clothing that doesn't fit anymore on the basis that one should just give up trying to lose weight, it's hard not to resent that kind of discourse when you have no intention of staying at your weight.
no subject
Date: 2012-06-26 01:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-26 02:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-26 04:09 pm (UTC)This person stated that it was BRAIN CONTROL and that mental illness was a myth used to control people.
no subject
Date: 2012-06-26 02:22 pm (UTC)I never understood why that metaphor was supposed to be anti-medication- who would deny a limping person a crutch?!
no subject
Date: 2012-06-26 02:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-26 02:39 pm (UTC)