Mental Health Antipsychotic/Mental Health Stigma- Didn't Know How to Respond

[Ketamania]

So I was talking with my uncle the other morning about the meds I take for my mental illnesses. He is older and doesn't understand the "new wave" of mental health research.

Anyways, after we got through understanding that Bipolar (and other certain mental health diseases) are a life lasting illness, he says he hopes that my PTSD can be "cured" because it was so long ago.

I just felt that was so wrong of him to say. Just because my PTSD stemmed from when I was 12, doesn't make it any less significant.

In addition, he wanted to know if I'll be on my meds for life, and said he hoped that I wasn't. First of all, I told him Bipolar is a life-long illness, and going off my meds (as I've previously experienced) can lead to very bad consequences/episodes. I understand some people can get off their meds, but I'm content on mine and have found the right cocktail.

How do I respond to somebody who doesn't think/want/believe I should be on meds for certain permanent mental illnesses? I have Bipolar 2 (might be Schizoaffective disorder very soon), PTSD, ADD, and social anxiety specific GAD.

In addition, I think he doesn't take mental health seriously like my aunt does.

The other night I was hearing things while trying to sleep, so I went to the living room to calm down, take a xanax, and chill. However, my uncle was watching the news, and it was talking about killings and my PTSD stems from my dad being murdered by my mom. I asked him to change the channel politely, but he said it's "his tv" and he wouldn't change it. He didn't understand that the news was triggering me alongside my already stressful experience of just having hallucinations. How do I handle a person like this? My aunt is much more understanding and let me sit in her office to calm down and fall asleep while watching calming television.

 

[Jerry Atrick]

I'm sorry that happened and I'm sorry you have to deal with your uncle. In my experience, some people just choose to live in ignorance. I was going to ask if there was any way you could talk with your aunt about maybe having a sit down discussion with your uncle with her present to support you. But if I were in your shoes, I would maybe not want to cause friction between my aunt and uncle.

I really don't have much advice other than to try to weather the storm and don't listen to his uneducated opinions on mental health. The governor of my state once publicly said he does not believe in mental illness. Kind of a slap in the face to those of use who know all too well what it's like to carry this burden every single day.

Do you mind if I ask how old you are and for how long you will be dependent on your aunt and uncle for support? It sounds like you live with them. Are you willing or even able to find a different living situation? Maybe a different family member who actually has a shred of empathy and a clue as to what you experience?

I once moved back in with my dad after being discharged from a mental hospital. That only lasted a couple of weeks. While in IOP I had a breakthrough and chose homelessness rather than going back to his house. I literally ditched my cell phone at the facility, walked to a Greyhound station, and bussed it several states away from home. All of that just to end the psychological damage he was doing to me at the moment as well as my whole life leading up to that moment. I'm NOT saying you should follow that example and become homeless. I'm just trying to tell you how serious I took my situation. I should add that I was not completely stable on meds until several months later after I got off the streets and moved in with different family members far away from my dad.

I'm not trying to sound harsh but sometimes I've found it's healthier to end a toxic relationship rather than try to convince someone else to change their deeply held beliefs. I mean, it sounds like he is almost reverse gaslighting you, if that is even such a phenomenon. Like instead of trying to manipulate you into thinking you are mentally ill, he is almost trying to coerce you into thinking you are not. Bullshit if you ask me.

 

[Ketamania]

I'm not trying to sound harsh but sometimes I've found it's healthier to end a toxic relationship rather than try to convince someone else to change their deeply held beliefs. I mean, it sounds like he is almost reverse gaslighting you, if that is even such a phenomenon. Like instead of trying to manipulate you into thinking you are mentally ill, he is almost trying to coerce you into thinking you are not. Bullshit if you ask me.

You didn't sound harsh. In fact, I appreciate your honesty. I'm 20 y/o, only lived with them since December 20th.

Thing is, I moved in with them because I got kicked out of my previous living situation and was facing homelessness. So I don't want to "rock the boat", and I may just indeed weather the storm. He's not too "in my face" about it thankfully. I'll just have to gauge how living w/ them is for a little bit, and once I get back on my feet money-wise, I'll move out.

 

[Jerry Atrick]

You didn't sound harsh. In fact, I appreciate your honesty. I'm 20 y/o, only lived with them since December 20th.

Thing is, I moved in with them because I got kicked out of my previous living situation and was facing homelessness. So I don't want to "rock the boat", and I may just indeed weather the storm. He's not too "in my face" about it thankfully. I'll just have to gauge how living w/ them is for a little bit, and once I get back on my feet money-wise, I'll move out.

Cool, I'm glad you found a better living situation than homelessness. I'm also glad to hear your uncle is not too in your face about this stuff. It sounds like you have a plan and I hope you are able to follow through with it successfully.