To think there's an unnecessary stigma against drugs for physical/mental health?

[janef001]

I have a niece who has struggled with ADHD and autism since they were young. Their autism also makes them more sensitive to physical pain. My aunt always dismissed her problems and she struggled a lot (homelessness, suicide attempts_. She got sorted out and moved to the US where she got a psychiatrist that prescribed her Adderall,Vicodin, and Prozac. Her life has substantially improved and she now has friends, a well paying job and no depressive/suicidal thoughts.
But it seems that she still faces stigma not just from our family but from a few people she tells. Most are okay with it but others always say "You can't be on them long term". I've always been perplexed by why people think mental health is distinct from physical health. I understand over prescription is a big thing (particularly in America) but if it works, why would someone give out about it?

This is about your aunt being a dick.

I don’t think there’s a stigma.

Because they are ignorant and uneducated on a wide range of medical issues.

I’m on Elvanse (EU version of Adderall), Pregabalin and Quetiapine (for CPTSD and related insomnia/anxiety/panic).

After almost two decades of being dismissed, misdiagnosed and being bounced back from Psych referrals, in the last 5 years I’ve managed to get an Access Science qualification, an Undergrad STEM degree, and am halfway through a Masters.

I had spent 3 years prior to that unable to even work part time.

But the amount of nay saying and ridiculous shit from even my family members has made me wary of telling anyone else. My close friends know and are supportive.

In general I don’t discuss it, I don’t get into other peoples discussions about other peoples meds for ADHD/MH issues, because they give me the fucking rage.

I wouldn’t dream of telling someone who’s, for example, got arthritis, what they should and shouldn’t be taking. Because I know fuck all about it. Yet it doesn’t stop folk piping up and getting on their dumbass soap boxes.

There is a huge stigma, just scroll through mumsnet, it’s everywhere.

There most definitely is a stigma regarding medication for MH and ND issues. It’s not from doctors though. They understand the medication (in some cases) is needed long term or for life. It’s usually people who have a brush with poor MH and took anti depressants for a few months who think their experience is the end all and be all of that MH disorder that roll their eyes or insist I should stop poisoning my body with drugs and I wouldn’t need medication if I were more committed to beating my disorders. It’s ignorance.