Grrr...Aunt telling me I don’t need meds, turn all my problems over to God

OMG, my aunt has jumped up on her religious bandwagon telling me I don’t need psych meds. Look at her, she’s turning her problems over to God and not taking the pills her allergist wants her to take (though she will run to the doctor at the first sign of any sinus issues). She told me the doctor wanted her to take psych meds after her divorce 30 years ago and she didn’t and she’s fine , and I am thinking the doctor was probably right. That whole side of my family has psych issues and alcoholism through and through along with jail and suicide.

I tried to explain to her bipolar is lifelong and linked strongly to genetics or at least an individual’s brain chemistry, and it is not something I can pray away. I need to take medication.

I’d just let it go, but now she’s texting me “got religion in the wrong way” stuff daily, emailing too if she feels like it.

She’s already given me plenty of unsolicited parenting advice as seen on some TV nanny show over the years even though I again and again have to bite my tongue as she has no kids, and TV shows likely don’t cover kids with sensory processing disorder. And no kid is a carbon cut copy of another

I believe in God, but I also believe God made humans smart enough to discover medicine, and why would He do that if we weren’t supposed to put it to use?

I get to see her this weekend as my grandmother is clearing out a lot of her stuff. And then in 2 weeks for my niece’s birthday party.

And she seems to think it is not a problem to discuss my mental health issues in front of my family and even my BIL’s family.

Talk about toxic relatives

Sorry...just a vent.

I'd try to avoid the topic of mental illness and medications with her. One option, if she persists, is that you can always tell her that God told you that you should take medications.

That sucks. Maybe just shut her down? Tell her it’s not appropriate to discuss your mental health in public (or company if others). Heck, maybe just tell her you don’t want to discuss your mental health with her any more. If you feel like it, throw in that you love her. Or not.

I know, all of that is far more easily said than done. I could rant about my family members too - so much of the same kind of thing!!! I’m just now learning that I can shut them down. I can tell them that whatever their opinions are about my mental health and how I live my life, I’m not interested in hearing them. And by the way... and change the subject. For me, it’s working better than I expected.

shut her down......sorry you are having to deal with her.
((((((HUGS)))))))
bizi

Maybe thank her for her concern, while smiling.. (Often, even the most obnoxious people are truly concerned about a relative's welfare.)

Then tell you're all set.

Turn away and move on. (Make sure your body language matches your words Key in communication.)

You have a trained, scientific, rational mind. It might be difficult to cope with the ongoing, seemingly irrational, rhetoric. Discussing, making arguments , is very likely to simply exacerbate her need for debate, prolonging the exchange(s) and amplifying your pain and frustration.

With brief and clear communication, you can be kind and sincere, without welcoming the rhetoric of others' viewpoints and/or discussions of differences in beliefs.

Best wishes in gracefully handling a family's typical expression of differences in varied beliefs..
A great topic to consider just before the holiday season!
Please protect yourself from uneccessary stress.

Yeah, some people are unfortunately like that. But at the end of the day, it's just an opinion, even if it's an irritating one. She can't force you to NOT take them, anyway.

If she doesn't want to respect your POV or your lifestyle choices, that's her decision. Some people are just opinionated and their opinions can't be changed, no matter how much information you provide them to convince them otherwise. So, sometimes it's best to agree to disagree, or to avoid discussions like these altogether (like BirdDancer said). It's also perfectly okay to say something like, "Thanks for your concerns. I will keep that in mind." if she's doing it in front of other people. (And you don't have to "keep it in mind" if you don't want to, but you just say it to end the conversation right then and there.) Or, you can change the subject.

My family thinks my illness is due to life circumstances and blames my husband. Some people don't want to believe our brains can mess up that badly. I just tell people that don't know my medication is for seizures usually that closes the discussion. That wont help in this case. I would pull her aside and tell her you do not wish to talk about your health in front of anyone. That it's inappropriate to mention around your daughter.

I truly feel for you, bb. My husband believes that prayer is the answer to all illness and that medication is a way to reject God.

It is disgusting - especially because he is mentally ill, and so ashamed of it that he refuses treatment.

In my experience, most of the "God over meds" people are terrified of exposing their own psych issues.

btw, I tell my husband that I beleieve that a loving God provides the opportunity for me to have access to meds.

Good luck with your aunt. The anti-med people are a pain in the as$ to deal with - as if mental illness isn't difficult enough already.

Turn your aunt problem over to God.