Enough with the insinuations

Published on June 30, 2004 By dharmagrl In Blogging

In the past couple of articles it has been insinuated that I have no compassion for those who are mentally ill, despite my admission that I have been clinically depressed myself. It was said that I have compassion until it comes to spending my tax dollar on assistance for the mentally ill. No names have been mentioned, but both Teresa and I know that it is us who are being referred to.

I really had tried to refrain from writing this, but I cannot let this go.

I have compassion for those who truly are mentally ill. I have empathy and sympathy for those who truly are disabled. I have no qualms giving a helping hand to those who are willing to help themselves. I will (and have literally) given the shirt off my back and the last of the cash out of my wallet to help someone stay warm and fill their belly. I have no issue with my tax dollar (and yes, I paid taxes) being used to help someone get back on their feet or get a decent start in life. I have volunteered to open my home to help people get back on their feet after a tragedy has laid them low. I have been an advocate, a voice for the voiceless. I have done, not just talked about doing......I have done, taken action, got off my ass and made a difference.....and no, I'm not talking about going on flag waving protest marches, signing petitions, or writing a standard party-line letter to a congressman, I have walked into people's offices and refused to leave until shit got done to fix the issue. I don't have a problem doing that to help my fellow man.

What I do have a problem with, however, is people who will milk the system for all it's worth. Who, rather than taking benefits for the minimum amount of time and getting off of them as soon as they possibly can, will take the benefits until they run out and then bitch about the government leaving them 'desolate' and homeless. I have a problem with people who can interact 'normally' and even agressively with other people, but who say that they are too 'depressed' to seek employment and support themselves. I have a problem with those who manipulate the system, and I have a major problem with those who lie about who they are and what they do. I have a problem with people constantly criticizing what this country and this government does, but who will be the first in line with their hands out if there's a benefit they're eligible for. I have a problem with people suggesting that every single homeless person in America is in that circumstance because of the government's fault, because they're not. Some of them are there by choice, by their own doing, regardless of what you might think to the contrary.

So yeah, go ahead and say that I'm full of venom and that I lack compassion. Insinuate that I'm a horrible oerson...I know the truth, and those that are closest to me know the truth. Now my personal thoughts and values are written here, in black and white, so even those who don't know me too well can draw their own conclusions.

That's all I have to say about that.

Comments (Page 1)

trina_p

on Jun 30, 2004

You never cease to amaze me

dharmagrl

on Jun 30, 2004

Is that a bad thing?

bakerstreet

on Jun 30, 2004

The main problem with treatment of the mentally ill is insurance companies, imho. It is much cheaper to pay for $100+ in meds than weekly visits to a psychologist/psychiatrist to work through problems. Most counselling places I have seen have a bunch of counsellors that forward patients to a single Psychiatrist who jsut writes presciptions all day.

What they don't care about is the fact that these people will often find their way onto disability as "untreatable".

In my part of the country SSI is the go-to choice for people who would have once been on welfare. I know of places you could find dozens of people drawing SSI and other benefits because of what they always call "nerve problems" or "depression".

I don't doubt that there are people that need medication, and that some are debilitated by their illness, but the fact is most never get scrutinized enough to find out if they can work through their problems. They can't afford to pay to get help, and the services available to them would rather take the cheap way out instead of waiting months or years to see if traditional counselling can work through their problems.

Psychology/Psychiatry has a serious problem with diagnosis at this point, I think. They can be strong-armed by insurance companies and no one can really second guess their diagnosis.

I don't think you lack compassion, Dharmagirl, I think you are asking the same questions that many, many people are asking. I lived in public housing in Tennessee after college and was surrounded by "sick" folks that watched a lot of TV and sold their meds to others.

If people are truly concerned with the plight of the homeless and all the rest of the people really suffering with mental illness, they'll demand that the government look at how the system is saturated with abusers while the rest fall through the cracks.

trina_p

on Jun 30, 2004

Heck No!

Without sounding condescending - I'm proud of you.
I didn't know what else to say but I wanted you to know you had my support.

dharmagrl

on Jun 30, 2004

I don't doubt that there are people that need medication, and that some are debilitated by their illness, but the fact is most never get scrutinized enough to find out if they can work through their problems.

I know there are folks who are truly debilitated by their illnesses, and who will neber be able to counduct a 'normal' life....but for each one of those people with a real need there are god-knows-how-many-more playing the system for their 'nerve problems'.

dharmagrl

on Jun 30, 2004

Awww, thanks, Trina. Sorry, I'm a little defensive at the moment...give me a couple of seconds and it will pass.

BlueDev

on Jun 30, 2004

Dharma, I simply must agree with you here. I have had opportunities to work with severly mentally ill people (at the state mental hospital). I have seen depression, mania, and psychosis at their very worst. I really do know how debilitating those diseases can be and have witnessed the burden they are on the affected individual and those around them. Make no mistake, I too am not ignorant to the plight of the mentally ill.

But I have also seen the liars. The deceivers. The manipulators.

The patient who walks themselves into the ER and casually says "You know, I think I might kill myself, you better admit me." Is that serious? You bet. But then I talk to them, I interview them, I spend hours working with them and the truth comes out. All they wanted was "three hot and a cot". They knew the system, they knew what to say, and they knew we could do nothing about it. Drug abusers who knew that if they said they were suicidal they could spend a few days in the hospital, get three good meals and a bed to sleep on. They knew they could get feeling better, then go out and use again. I say the patients who didn't get discharged to the rehab center they wanted, so instead said on the morning they were supposed to leave "I don't feel safe today", knowing we would keep them there.

And you know what pisses me off the most? Those leeches are the ones who make it that much more difficult for those who truly need help. So go ahead and blame us, those who pitch in, who do what we can for others. Blame us for the flaws in the system. Perish the thought that you look at the real problem.

simplethings

on Jun 30, 2004

I agree with you. *shakes her head* people upset me so much. I can't think of words to say that make any sense considering its like 5, so I'll get on later and leave you a comment that at least sort of makes sense. Keep it up though, I like reading something that actually works with my thoughts.

Emma

KarmaGirl

on Jun 30, 2004

The problem with saying that "mentally ill" can't work is that it is assumed that all work is the same. It also self feeds the problem.

As with any disease, the more you think about it, the worse it gets. The more you let yourself believe that you "can't" do something, the more you won't be able to do it.

The saying "God helps those who help themselves" is true. Self healing is more powerful than anything. Self empowerment can do wonders for you. Staying at home in some "safe" corner is not going to heal any affliction- it will just make it worse.

Take Christopher Reeve. He could have easily just given up. He could have just closed his door to his home and never come out again. But, he didn't. He came out fighting, inspiring, educating, and working.

Life is what you make of it. You can either let your disease define you, or just deal with your disease and live.

There are many people who truly can not work. But, those people are a very small percent of the population who actually are labeled as "disabled".

Karen, I know that you are a compassionate person. If others can't see that, then they are turning a blind eye. It's easier to ignore our demons than to face them head on.

Poetmom99

on Jun 30, 2004

have compassion for those who truly are mentally ill. I have empathy and sympathy for those who truly are disabled. I have no qualms giving a helping hand to those who are willing to help themselves. I will (and have literally) given the shirt off my back and the last of the cash out of my wallet to help someone stay warm and fill their belly. I have no issue with my tax dollar (and yes, I paid taxes) being used to help someone get back on their feet or get a decent start in life. I have volunteered to open my home to help people get back on their feet after a tragedy has laid them low. I have been an advocate, a voice for the voiceless. I have done, not just talked about doing......I have done, taken action, got off my ass and made a difference.....and no, I'm not talking about going on flag waving protest marches, signing petitions, or writing a standard party-line letter to a congressman, I have walked into people's offices and refused to leave until shit got done to fix the issue. I don't have a problem doing that to help my fellow man.

Darn...get out of my head, sis.....I could have written the above about myself!!

Great article.....nothing else needs to be said.

David St Hubbins

on Jun 30, 2004

A few months ago I moved into a big house with 9 roommates and a Siberian Husky. One of my roommates is a 40 year old woman on disability with ADHD. Anyhoo, I 'work' from home so we spend lots of time on the back porch shooting the shit over the course of the day. One seed I've tried to plant in her brain is that the idea of earning cash is not restricted to a traditional job with a pay cheque. The internet offers everyone, incuding non-geeks, a new opportunity to earn cash. I think the 9 to 5 gig is an anachronism from the industrial age; in the informational age trading labour for cash is not the only game in town.

Did you know you can play Trivial Pursuit Link online for money?
Building a cool website and selling advertising is another idea that takes little capital to get off the ground, and it's not as hard as one might think.

KarmaGirl

on Jun 30, 2004

One seed I've tried to plant in her brain is that the idea of earning cash is not restricted to a traditional job with a pay cheque.

Shhh....don't insert logic into this
You are absolutely right. There are all sorts of jobs that would pay more that the SS benefits that can be done from home or mainly from home. You just have to look at all the options and find one that you can do.

Poetmom99

on Jun 30, 2004

Did you know you can play Trivial Pursuit Link online for money?

Cool....thanks for the link!

dharmagrl

on Jun 30, 2004

No Little Whip, I'd have come right out and said it to you! I've done the same thing...anymore, I refuse to give money to the homeless. I'll buy them food, give them clothes and blankets etc, and the ones that truly are in need will accept that and be grateful. i've had a couple that are obnoxious and say they want the cash, but too bad - I'm not paying for your fix or your buzz.

David: Thanks, now I have something else to procrastinate with! Seriously, I just played the demo game....man, I miss that game!

Dev, I know you know what I'm talking about. The people who are depressed, yes, but who, if they pushed themselves, could function well enough on their own. Instead they choose to take the 3 hots and a cot the government is obligated to give them, whether it be in their own home or in a state hospital.

Karma....you're absolutely right. We aren't dealt a fair hand in life all the time, but you take what you've got and you play the best game you can with it.

I'm still mad that I would be called venemous and incompassionate. Then again, I suppose I should consider the source, huh? Big time?

BigDreamer415

on Jun 30, 2004

I have nothing other to say than wow, this is a really amazingly written and sensible article!

~Sarah

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