Posted by up'n'down on August 12, 2005, at 21:11:28
Dear Amy;This is probably too late for your article, but I haven't been posting for awhile, and then thoughts have to percolate for awhile before they jell, sometimes.
You mentioned about psych patients being more into taking responsibility and action for their health care, especially meds. I know this is so, and I will tell you why it is for me. Psych issues are so very subjective. My disease determines how I function in this world.For instance, I have Rheumatic Valvular Heart Disease, and have had some very scary incidents with it. I now have 2 valve replacements; I had severe, life-threatening complications after my surgery. But I don't give near the time and attention to that part of my health.
The reason is that my psych diseases govern how I react to everything.It doesn't matter what is going on with the rest of my body if my head isn't working fairly OK.
To summarize, I have life-threatening physical diseases, but my psych disease is a living-threatening disease!
I hope this gives you some food for thought, if your still on this subject. up 'n' down
poster:up'n'down
thread:536372
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050811/msgs/540898.html