Most of the ethnically diverse populations in the United States have cultures. When they fight amongst themselves, they fight as members of their communities. They are families of generations. Their friendships with each other may not be based on race, but they are not fraught with the power imbalance that everyone who has a psychiatric history has to contend with in every relationship. While their oppression as groups can't be envied, they have formal and informal cultural supports to help them cope with it. They have also made significant progress legally and socially, while every stereotype about mental illness flourishes, everywhere in the world.
Having a psychiatric history means that every professional or interpersonal conflict eventually boils down to "You're lying, you're crazy, shut up and do what you're told and show no sign of anger if you know what's good for you; everyone knows that whatever's wrong is your fault." EVERY relationship is that way when you have a psychiatric history; there are no exceptions. As soon as people know that you ever had a diagnosis, it's only a matter of time until everything unravels.
There are probably people who think that I was molested when I was a child, and that this is why I have protested against child molestation. I wasn't molested; what I know is what it feels like to be helpless all the time.
Copyright L. Kochman, October 4, 2017 @ 11:38 a.m.
