Posted by utopizen on July 25, 2003, at 13:41:42
In reply to Re: you'll love this one, posted by linkadge on June 25, 2003, at 6:32:07
> I personally think its pathetic. I don't mean to compare the sevarity of illnesses here, but when the drug companies try to target everybody like they do in these comercials, It makes me feel like I can never explain to people the extent of my suffering.
>I understand exactly how you feel. I have social anxiety and ADD and excessive daytime sleepiness. The three most common disorders for the media to dismiss, unless you think they do that with depression (individuals might, but I think the early 90's media crap subsided once the idiot reporters realized it didn't make normal people feel better than normal).
But at the same time, watching the Paxil social anxiety ad was what prompted me to realize I might be able to control my social anxiety. I don't know why I didn't think of seeing a psychiatrist before it, and I don't know why. I guess everyone convincing myself it was my personality, not a way of thinking that it really is.
The 30-second Paxil ad, however silly it is, let me realize it was the way I thought, not the way I merely existed, that let me realize I could get help.
I put up with that B.S. about people over-using the word "over-prescribed" (and then never realize they have a way to support their claim it's over-prescribed) with me. I don't care, they're not doctors.
They'll start to use words like "well I believe.." And I try to explain to them science doesn't have "beliefs," it has hypotheses that must be proven before it is accepted. And then it's a theory. Everyone was taught this in 6th grade, but they think they're somehow above having to accept a rational thought process. Ironic, since irration thought processes are what gets us into our problems to begin with, yet we're able to point out to others how they're irrational for thinking about mental illness.
So on the one hand, I would never have sought treatment without seeing the Paxil ad. On the other, I have to realize people think mental disorders are fabricated exaggerations of common personality traits. Unless you are foaming at the mouth, people will never believe you have a mental illness.I have a $2500 neuropsychological evaluation at Mass General's Psychology Assessment Center. My mom, who works with kids with special needs and has her masters in it, is still convinced I don't have ADD or social anxiety. She knows I'm a sophmore in college, I'm not ugly, and I've never dated a girl. And that I could never concentrate in school. Lazy and shy are these reasons for these conditions.
And she's very defensive over it, too, like as if she accepts I have these problems she has to admit she smoked crack or something when I was a baby. Or maybe she would have to recgonize she could have had me see a psyhichiatrist when I was a kid.
poster:utopizen
thread:236851
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030723/msgs/245220.html