General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I deeply regret ever having sought mental health treatment. [View all]Denninmi
(6,581 posts)Just because I'm in place X now doesn't mean it wasn't a horrific experience, and knowing then what I know now, I never would have made that phone call under any circumstances. It happened, I have to pick up the pieces to the best of my ability, and take a shot at having a better future. Interesting, the new psychiatrist asked me if I could trust her or any doctor after what I experienced. I replied to her that, just because I got a cruel, incompetent quack the first go around doesn't mean I am so embittered as to believe that the entire profession is tainted. I also told her I checked her out very carefully and was pleased with what I found, including a personal reference for one of the hospital staffers who told me this doctor was "the best" all around, including an excellent bedside manner.
I value being treated exactly like every other citizen and not having any constitutional right taken away without due process. What the specific right is is completely irrelevant. It could be anything from speech,religion, or assembly to the right to counsel, to vote, or the right not to be subject to unreasonable search and seizure. The underlying principle is the same no matter what the specific right is - equal protection, due process, and privacy.
My "health and happiness" is highly dependent on my sense of self worth, and living under conditions of being treated as a second class citizen or worse would certainly not help that situation. I'm sure in past situations, populations who were oppressed because of prejudice had many individuals who railed against the profound injustice of it all. And stigmatization is prejudice, nothing less.
If, in the hypothetical, I chose to get into hunting or target sports, I,would be as responsible with a firearm as anyone else who follows proper safety protocols. And I would have absolutely no concerns about " having it around". Oh please, there are probably a thousand ways for a determined individual to commit suicide if they have their mind made up to do it. So, extrapolating your comment to the wider view, that would mean I would have to get rid if kitchen knives, the antifreeze in my cars, sheets and ropes, electricity, natural gas, gasoline and kerosene, prescription medications of some types, plastic garbage bags, you name it. I guess for "complete security" a suicidal person belongs in a padded cell. I refuse to live imprisoned by some prejudice which implies I'm not a mature responsible adult.
Frankly, the stupid prejudiced comments I have seen in response to my posts almost make me want to go out and buy one purely out of spite and defiance. I would have no use for it, prior posts aside where I was fighting stigma and disapproval from the self-righteous, but I'm sure that various family members who hunt and shoot would certainly appreciate it as a gift.
As far as what you think of me, who cares? The Internet is full of opinion, pro/con, good/bad. If you think I'm going to hang my head in shame because some anonymous poster chastises me, well, don't hold your breath. If you don't like it, tough there's an ignore function that I would be honored to be placed on by any hateful prejudiced person.