My 7 Years of Detention Hell
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Back in 2013, I had a spiritual awakening of sorts. Being an atheist at that time made it an odd experience. My mind was a bit flustered, but by no means was I a threat to myself or others. Even so, my mother grew concerned at my newfound beliefs and asked me to get an evaluation. I went voluntarily and I was questioned by the attending physician. To be clear, I knew nothing about the Bible or religion at all at this time. I said I was God’s child, and then he asked if I was saying I was Jesus. I shrugged and said, “I guess?” He then proceeded to drug me, and I then woke up in a psych ward. How I found myself in this situation even though I didn’t express suicidal or homicidal tendencies still confuses me to this day.
On Being Forced Out in the Clinical Psychology Field
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Borderline personality disorder is a highly stigmatized diagnosis. Although I do not identify with it and do not consent to this diagnostic assignment, it was given to me as a teenager. I experienced multiple levels of ongoing abuse, neglect, and self-harm. These experiences spilled over onto my psychiatric treatment. This diagnosis, along with a comorbid Bipolar Type 2 diagnosis were the drivers of many years of mistreatment that I had experienced from mental health professionals, peers and family members.
My prognosis was almost apocalyptic. My family was told to prepare to sustain me financially and emotionally for the rest of my life. They were told I would be in and out of hospitals, continually attempt suicide, and not be able to have meaningful interpersonal relationships with others. Independence, higher education, healthy friendships, romantic relationships, and family life were out of the question for me.