Following My Treatment Plan Doesn’t Make Me A Sissy

Am I Really A “Sissy” For Following My Wellness And Treatment Plan?

I recently posted a video on Facebook talking about breaking the stigma of pill shaming.

I rarely use Facebook like the other social media platforms. This was an exception because the video perfectly depicted my thoughts.

Fast forward to the next day and I had a response to my posted video:

This is why the world is addicted to pharmaceuticals. Pill shaming? So we are supposed to support people covering up real issues with pills rather than hmmm I dunno facing the issues and working on creating the proper chemical relationships in the brain?! This world is a bunch of weak ass sissies.

Why would someone respond to my video in such a negative way? I took it personally at first, but those feelings quickly swept away.

The Reality Surrounding A Treatment Plan

Most individuals who respond in such a way are generally fearful or not educated about the covered subject. Here, it is bipolar disorder.

I think it is quite unfortunate that someone believes we can just think bipolar disorder away. If that statement were true, people would have eradicated bipolar disorder centuries ago.

This line of thinking just contributes to stigma.

Mental illness already has an attached stigma.

Individuals having mental illness are now being chastised for simply following their doctor’s orders.

It is a two-edged sword when you combine the stigma of both bipolar disorder and pill shaming.

I am a firm believer that the foundation of any bipolar treatment plan should be medication management. It is the medical model of Western Medicine and is based on evidentiary support. I decompensate without taking my daily regime of medicine.

When I read the quote above, I see it as one-dimensional. No wonder individuals pill shame. They look only from the outside and make no effort to fully understand what goes into treating a mental illness.

Medication

I mentioned medication as the foundation of my wellness and treatment plan. There are multiple levels of my daily treatment. I use aromatherapy, meditate, exercise, eat right, drink plenty of water, and see a therapist every week. This is a multi-dimensional approach and extremely complex. I use the philosophies of both Western and Eastern medicine.

Every person on this planet is an individual and has their own treatment plan.

I am not here to push my ideas down your throat. These are my experiences and the strategies that work for me.

I hope you have time to try some of these ideas for yourself.

With pill shaming, please do not let it curtail the treatment of your bipolar disorder.

You must realize that those who pill shame do it for one of two reasons. First, fear can be a huge response. It is quite common to get defensive when you are fearful.

Second, people who do not understand medication management, bipolar disorder, and proper treatment are more likely to engage in pill shaming. Especially if you pair this reason with fear. It can be quite a turmoil.

I know it is easier said than done, but try not to listen to the haters and naysayers.

Pop culture propagates the notion of pill shaming. Just don’t let it get under your skin. Your health is more important than anything else. Without it, you cannot function, attend to your responsibilities, and enjoy life.

So, back to the original question I asked:

Am I Really A “Sissy” For Following My Wellness And Treatment?

The answer is a resounding NO!

In reality, you are stronger for dealing with your adversity instead of ignoring it or even not managing it.

It is not always the most enjoyable thing to take multiple medications daily. By making your mental health a priority, you are saying something to the world. You value your own self-worth, have a high sense of integrity, and desire to live a good life.

When it comes down to it, your desire to manage bipolar disorder should outweigh whatever anyone else says or does.

Remember, bipolar disorder is not a decision, but an explanation.