YES. I think that's exactly what happened. When I present as "credentialed mental health provider" people are much more respectful. Sometimes I get "Miss". That was the worst part of the whole experience. As soon as I said I was an artist she started to feel bad for me. Every subsequent assumption implied my art was a handicap, something that hampered an otherwise productive human being from reaching their potential.
As for your other point, I've worked with a lot of artists. I always ask "show me what you've been working on in this depressive episode?" or "let me see this body of work you've accomplished while living with unmedicated bipolar." If somebody actually had a coherent body of work I would totally agree that they were doing GREAT. But its never happened. Its always like, they have ideas but due to mental illness they've been unable to execute, or complete, any meaningful work. I can't prescribe medication but I can encourage them to accept a referral.
@Colours_dont_match
I don't think anybody should have to go through that. Yes, psych wards are just LIKE. THAT. But outpatient psychiatrists should listen to their patients. Patients know their bodies better than doctors do, full stop. Don't get me started on medication withdrawal. I work in substance use, I've seen every kind of detox and withdrawal (ok like mostly, dont fact check this.) Suboxone withdrawal is the worst substance withdrawal I've seen, worse than heroin. Its a straight month of classic withdrawal, shakes, weird appetite, no sleep, stomach pain, just the worst. Then its a couple months of intense cravings and a year and a half for your brain to adjust.
it takes six months just to get off antidepressants. Six months, because the dosage has to be adjusted incrementally to avoid a mental health episode. Like, shaving pills, if youre doing it right. Then minimum another six months for the worst symptoms to end. Who knows how long for your brain to adjust. TBH ive never seen anybody come all the way off long term antidepressants because its too hard. Thats not to say people shouldnt take them. Im just making an observation. When clients try and do it on their own its like a red flag because they usually dont do the prepwork, they just stop. It can trigger a new depressive episode, suicide attempt, mania etc. Its like a one way ticket to psych ward in a lot of cases. Which as we all know, is the worst. Then the clients gets out and they are more dependent than ever, plus they feel like shit from being in the psych ward. Please please dont do this.