Epilepsy Talk

Why would a psychiatrist be embarrassed?  | February 25, 2024

“I’m a psychiatrist and even I kept my mental health meds a secret. At work, I know how important these medications are. But personally? The stigma against them left me feeling ashamed.

No matter how many times I’ve had conversations about why it isn’t weak, a failure, or shameful to need medication for your mental health — and wholeheartedly believe every word I have said — it turns out it didn’t protect me from internalizing the same negative beliefs about taking psychiatric medication myself.

Here is the truth: I have been on a stable dose of Wellbutrin (Bupropion) for 13 years, and despite being quite a public advocate about self-disclosure and mental health, I have never once said that out loud.

If you have ever read anything I’ve written before this may seem surprising because I am really open about my own mental heath.

But, if you look closely, I’ve never mentioned having seen a psychiatrist myself or taking medication.

It is a boundary I put up, even though it wasn’t always a conscious one. Until now.”

Read about how Dr. Jessi Gold’s brave journey through her own mental health. It’s a lesson we can all learn from. Click on: https://www.instyle.com/beauty/health-fitness/psychiatrist-medication-stigma?

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4 Comments »

  1. Hetty Eliot's avatar

    I’ve gone to therapy for depression and yet when I go to a doctor and they ask about it, I always lie and said it was for anxiety. There’s still a lot of stigma no matter how much people say there shouldn’t be.

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    Comment by Hetty Eliot — February 29, 2024 @ 10:49 PM

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  2. Phylis Feiner Johnson's avatar

    I’m told I have an anxiety disorder. Yet I’m being treated for anxiety AND clinical depression.

    Figures state that about 30 percent of people with epilepsy, suffer from a depressive disorder.

    So which comes first, the chicken or the egg?

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    Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — March 1, 2024 @ 11:10 AM

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  3. Jeffrey Lee Hatcher's avatar

    I don’t see the shame in keeping mental health meds private no matter what your profession unless side effects or forgetfulness endanger the safety of others (yeah persons with epilepsy, such as myself, shouldn’t be airline pilots). We don’t discuss our heart meds anymore than I hear women discuss their period schedule. 

    Liked by 1 person

    Comment by Jeffrey Lee Hatcher — March 16, 2024 @ 11:48 AM

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  4. Phylis Feiner Johnson's avatar

    I think there’s a difference in verbal nuance here, Jeffrey.

    Private makes sense. But to go to the extremes of embarrassment, shame and paranoia is another thing altogether.

    Like

    Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — March 16, 2024 @ 4:32 PM

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    About the author

    Phylis Feiner Johnson

    Phylis Feiner Johnson

    I've been a professional copywriter for over 35 years. I also had epilepsy for decades. My mission is advocacy; to increase education, awareness and funding for epilepsy research. Together, we can make a huge difference. If not changing the world, at least helping each other, with wisdom, compassion and sharing.

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