The Right to Choose for the Mentally Ill

As a regular reader here, I know that mental illness is not a foreign topic to these boards. In fact, it comes up and is addressed with some frequency. I have encountered a great deal of diversity of thought among my feminist-identified friends when it comes to how to talk about mental illness. I have a manic disorder myself, and am a part of a community group where people with other illnesses are present as well. A few years ago, I made the decision that prescription medication was not working for me. It made me sick to my stomach. It caused such side effects that I would rather deal with the disease than the cure. My doctor tried multiple varieties, multiple dosages. Nothing helped. I eventually made the decision to begin alternative treatments, including nutrition therapy, holistic counseling, biofeedback, cognitive therapy, ect. These treatments work for me and help me manage my moods in an effective way. But the reactions I have received, even from people who profess to be feminist or progressive, have not always been good. And that begs the question… aren’t patients’ rights still relevant here?
I understand that the idea of an un-medicated mentally ill person is scary. I do. The news media doesn’t help the situation by flooding the news stream with stories about psychotic outbursts and the like. But I still find it shocking how few people I have met and divulged the information to feel free to openly criticize or disrespect the choice that some make to not use medication as a mental treatment.


I did not leap into non-pharmaceutical treatment blindly. I researched and read, interviewed and researched some more, and prepared myself for what would be involved. When I chose alternative treatment, I did it because my quality of life at the time was so poor that I knew I could not live this way anymore. But to hear some describe it, I am deeply irresponsible, because I do not take pills. I am placing myself, my family, my schoolmates, my community (ect.) at risk because I could snap and do something terrible one day. I have been told I set a poor example. That I am stupid to disregard medical science. That I have a RESPONSIBILITY to take the drugs. And I’m pretty tired of it.
I am NOT suggesting at all that no person with a mental illness should take drugs. NO WAY. I know people whose lives have been saved by the drugs and who have their lives and families back because of it. And good for them. But I am among those for whom the drugs offered no help. So, I found it elsewhere.
A lot (rightfully) gets made of the rights of pregnant and birthing women to shape their own plans and receive the care they want. A lot if getting made now of patients’ rights and the right to the treatment the sick want to receive, without consideration of cost. Patient rights are a noble cause, and one worth pursuing. But I still have the sinking feeling that the mentally ill are still a group that is it acceptable to make demands of, to police our choices and treatments, and to not ask what we would prefer to do.
If anyone else has experience with this issue or thoughts, please let me know.
I have not had many meaningful conversations on this topic!

Disclaimer: This post was written by a Feministing Community user and does not necessarily reflect the views of any Feministing columnist, editor, or executive director.

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