Posted by Bob on September 16, 1999, at 23:09:54
In reply to Re: The Twisted Shield of Social Status, posted by Melanie on September 16, 1999, at 20:39:33
Hey, for some subcultures of wealthy America, being a loon *is* a status symbol. ;^)
Then again, it's so much a part of the hypocrisy of White America, the lies we tell ourselves. I can easily see how economically successful families with long American pedigrees can be so stuffed with the classic, Puritan American ethic that acknowledging any sort of mental illness could cast a stain on the entire pedigree. I can also relate, in coming from a working-class Irish immigrant background -- if I was a true man, I'd just suck it up and spit it out. I wouldn't need any medications and I certainly wouldn't need to talk about my feelings to any stranger.
It's that attitude from my dad, combined with some serious malpractice by the UofMich counseling services, that drove me away from getting help when I was 21, something that wasted 15 years of my life.
Cass, you're not lying to yourself about who you are, and that's something your parents were never able to do, apparently. And no one here is going to doubt you or what you've been through. One of the best things about psycho-babble is that its feels like this boundless pool of strength -- you can always take what you need, and you'll find that giving some back in return only makes you stronger still.
Cheers,
Bob
poster:Bob
thread:11662
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990914/msgs/11676.html