Stigma around taking antipsychotics
Hey yall. How do you deal w the stigma of being on antipsychotics? What do you say?
My mother mostly, (but def other people too) always gets big eyed when I tell her the meds my psych and I are trying for stabilization and when I’m in episodes. She looked them up, saw some are antipsychotics and now tells people and me that I have psychotic episodes and will most likely end up schizophrenic because of my bipolar. I’ve tried to explain to her that antipsychotics are used for people with bipolar also not just people it’s schizophrenia, but she won’t hear it. To her my using an antiPSYCHOTIC obvi means I’m psychotic.
She also weaponizes my bipolar all the time now, like every time I’m upset with her she asks if I took my meds today and dismisses everything I’m feeling and saying by stating that it’s obvious I’m in an episode (even when I’m not) and she can’t deal with my bipolar. So now I have to walk on eggshells and let everything slide when she hurts me because anytime I have any sort of reaction she claims it’s unwarranted and it’s because of my mental illness. I’ve had a couple exboyfriends do this too.
Although the brunt of the stigma for me, comes directly from my mother personally. I know a lot other people who are uneducated on bipolar disorder and medication’s used for it, look down on us taking them.
So I’m wondering how you all maneuver it and have conversations / explain it to people?
Sidenote: I’m 31F, I don’t tell her about my medication or episodes anymore because of this, and i will not cut her off so please give alternative advice and be kind 🥺