Denial - I AIN'T sick

On the path to acceptance the first phase is always denial and disbelief. Such was my journey with mental illness. No matter how much information that came into this thick skull of mine I denied that there was mental illness to blame. Even though I had a genetic background and the health care professionals tried their damnest to convince me with genetics since my mother had the so called "nervous breakdown" that I too was ill, I wouldn't listen.

They tried everything possible to convince me that this illness was manageable and that I would recover but I simply would not listen. I had prided myself on my intellect and was damn if I was going to give in to an illness that impacted my brain. All my life, I believed that it was "brains" not "brawn" that won the race of life. Here I was at my mid-thirties, nationally recognized as a leader in my field and to be stricken by a disease of the brain...NO WAY.

Thankfully, for my tenaciousness, which meant I was a survivor not throwing in the towel I started learning about the illness through the school of hard knocks. I lost everything in the process of taking the hard, long way; my family, friends and colleagues. All went there separate ways as I simply refused to accept the illness. Now 22years later, I have accepted the illness and now that it is manageable as seen by my recovery to sanity.

The point that I am trying to make in this short post is that when your loved one is confronted with the prospect of having mental illness try as you may to persuade them to see the short road instead of arguing with them. Take the time to become fully educated in the illness and using that information try, try and try to persuade your loved one of the fact they have an illness that is manageable. Seek out support groups such as NAMI to help educate yourself and your loved one.

Before parting from this point, I would like to discuss with you how, unsuccessfully I may add, my family tried to convince me to take the medication. When I first was diagnosed with severe depression, the physician prescribed Ativan. My family tried every attempt for me to take the medication even to the point of insulting my intelligence and saying," look there is an A on the medication. It has been made especially for you." Readers please be aware that you are not talking to a two year old when you are trying to give the medication. Instead, try to sympathize with them and maybe you will get somewhere. This becomes an important part of the therapy of the patient. Many, not just myself, patients DO NOT want to take the medication.

Is it because the side-effects of the medicine does seem to validate the taking of the medication? Oh, yes talk to any patient who is on psychotropic medicine and you fine that the side effects somewhat outweigh the perceived benefits. No libido, indigestion, constipation and the list goes on and on. However, I for one now have accepted the medication as being a saving grace for me. I take it regularly and even fight the pharmacy to give my meds on time. There was a time when I took 25 different medicines, some for side effects and others for the disease. This will be covered in a post called, "Chemical Soup"

In closing, sympathize with your patient or loved one in accepting the illness for whatever reason they may have; seek assistance like you have never have before; educate yourself in both the side effects of the medications and above all the illness. Thanks for reading.