Wear Your Meds On Your Sleeve
March 21, 2019 8:22 AM Subscribe
Wear Your Meds distributes buttons with images of commonly-prescribed mental illness medications, with the goal of normalizing the open discussion of those medications and the conditions they treat. All proceeds are donated to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The project was developed by copywriter Lauren Weiss, who upon finding the right medication thought “It blew my mind that people actually lived a mentally stable life all the time. Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
The creator actually mentioned on social media (can't remember where exactly) that Adderall will be added soon, along with Effexor! I already have the Lexapro pin and the logo pin and I'm looking forward to adding Adderall when it goes up.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:18 AM on March 21, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:18 AM on March 21, 2019 [3 favorites]
This is a cool idea. Also, TIL that the brand-name versions of pills are much fancier than the generics I take. Who knew that Ativan is shaped like an 'A'?
posted by Ragged Richard at 9:26 AM on March 21, 2019 [7 favorites]
posted by Ragged Richard at 9:26 AM on March 21, 2019 [7 favorites]
TIL that the brand-name versions of pills are much fancier than the generics I take.
I know right? My favorite by far is the Klonopin. So cool!
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:30 AM on March 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
I know right? My favorite by far is the Klonopin. So cool!
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:30 AM on March 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
As someone who has benefitted mightily from the existence on mental illness medications I am somewhat uncomfortable with this.
I don’t hide the fact that I need them but I don’t advertise it either, which is the result of a hard won equilibrium I’ve reached with people in my life who are violently against the very existence of medication for mental issues. I would not say these people suffer from ignorance, but rather that the idea that a brain could be physically broken clashes violently with their view of the world. Born with a limp they can accept, born with depression not so much.
On the other hand, fuck ‘em. Outreach is more important, and it’s not like we can screw up their world view any more than it is.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 9:45 AM on March 21, 2019 [8 favorites]
I don’t hide the fact that I need them but I don’t advertise it either, which is the result of a hard won equilibrium I’ve reached with people in my life who are violently against the very existence of medication for mental issues. I would not say these people suffer from ignorance, but rather that the idea that a brain could be physically broken clashes violently with their view of the world. Born with a limp they can accept, born with depression not so much.
On the other hand, fuck ‘em. Outreach is more important, and it’s not like we can screw up their world view any more than it is.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 9:45 AM on March 21, 2019 [8 favorites]
“It blew my mind that people actually lived a mentally stable life all the time...”
Will someone please introduce me to these people who live their mentally stable lives all the time and tell me exactly what meds I need and what dosages? Apparently mine aren't perfect.
posted by BlueHorse at 9:51 AM on March 21, 2019 [3 favorites]
Will someone please introduce me to these people who live their mentally stable lives all the time and tell me exactly what meds I need and what dosages? Apparently mine aren't perfect.
posted by BlueHorse at 9:51 AM on March 21, 2019 [3 favorites]
As someone who has only ever taken generic clonazepam, that Klonopin tablet looks like some kind of cyberpunk street drug
posted by OverlappingElvis at 10:05 AM on March 21, 2019 [11 favorites]
posted by OverlappingElvis at 10:05 AM on March 21, 2019 [11 favorites]
It's been awhile since I took brand-name Wellbutrin. Can't say I remember it being pink-ish. My generics are both white, of course. Since the button pic is of the 200mg version, would I have to but 2 1/2 buttons to accurately represent my meds?
Neat idea.
posted by Thorzdad at 10:11 AM on March 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
Neat idea.
posted by Thorzdad at 10:11 AM on March 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
Will someone please introduce me to these people who live their mentally stable lives all the time and tell me exactly what meds I need and what dosages? Apparently mine aren't perfect.
After many years of adjustments I’ve gone the last two years with without any incidents of my mental state being inappropriate or out of scale to the circumstances. That doesn’t mean I haven’t been stressed or depressed (or hypomanic) occasionally, but they’ve been happening appropriately. I count that as stable.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 10:12 AM on March 21, 2019 [6 favorites]
After many years of adjustments I’ve gone the last two years with without any incidents of my mental state being inappropriate or out of scale to the circumstances. That doesn’t mean I haven’t been stressed or depressed (or hypomanic) occasionally, but they’ve been happening appropriately. I count that as stable.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 10:12 AM on March 21, 2019 [6 favorites]
This is a cute idea, the buttons are cute!!! but the money going only to NAMI gives me pause, as does the simplicity of the Get Help page. I don't know, I think at this point any attempt at mental health charity's Get Help section needs to take into account the people who are suffering who get forgotten about in these things, places that help out with legal rights, the sheer impossibility sometimes of getting help at all. You're not supposed to say that, but when you could lose your job for wearing one of these buttons, or when the med you take itself could make you lose your job.....it's complicated, like everything. And maybe it's not fair (it isn't) to put any pressure on what is only a genuinely cute button store and this is beyond the depth! But in general, I wish any charity efforts of this kind paid lip service to that complication somehow.
I seriously hope as many people who can wear buttons and want to do, though.
posted by colorblock sock at 10:14 AM on March 21, 2019 [8 favorites]
I seriously hope as many people who can wear buttons and want to do, though.
posted by colorblock sock at 10:14 AM on March 21, 2019 [8 favorites]
colorblock sock you should totally message the creator, she's been responsive and open to suggestions so far. That's why additional meds are being added - people messaged and asked for them. Your perspective could be very helpful!
posted by showbiz_liz at 10:19 AM on March 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 10:19 AM on March 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
Ever since getting on Zoloft I've wanted a Zoloft t-shirt.
posted by slogger at 10:41 AM on March 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by slogger at 10:41 AM on March 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
I take escitalopram (generic for lexapro) and mirtazapine daily and I've experienced the world in a whole new way, made a bunch of life changes, shown up better in my relationships and work, and am just...well...here. And I have to say there's a significant possibility that I wouldn't be here typing these words right now if it wasn't for these little chemical changes to my brain. And I don't just mean here on Metafilter, I mean here at all. So I'm a big proponent of normalizing these things and taking the stigma off of them. My p-doc has done a good job of reminding me that MANY of us are taking these things and that I'm not at all abnormal.
All that being said, I still think it's way too risky for me to wear this on my being and make it a day-in-day-out talking point with anyone I run into. I've definitely been vulnerable in safe relationships and conversations with people, but I in no way would feel safe to put this out there for the whole world to see. I'm quite confident it would spark conversations behind my back and adverse reactions that would have negative affects on me.
posted by allkindsoftime at 10:57 AM on March 21, 2019 [12 favorites]
All that being said, I still think it's way too risky for me to wear this on my being and make it a day-in-day-out talking point with anyone I run into. I've definitely been vulnerable in safe relationships and conversations with people, but I in no way would feel safe to put this out there for the whole world to see. I'm quite confident it would spark conversations behind my back and adverse reactions that would have negative affects on me.
posted by allkindsoftime at 10:57 AM on March 21, 2019 [12 favorites]
The creator actually mentioned on social media (can't remember where exactly) that Adderall will be added soon, along with Effexor
Huh. I'm on Effexor (Venlafaxine) for depression. I could see wearing one of these. Maybe not in every situation.
posted by duffell at 10:58 AM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
Huh. I'm on Effexor (Venlafaxine) for depression. I could see wearing one of these. Maybe not in every situation.
posted by duffell at 10:58 AM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
hooray, I'm order number 11! Still waiting on Adderall as well as on buspar.
only will wear these on the weekend, or maybe just keep them in my "cool buttons" horde.
posted by wires at 11:27 AM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
only will wear these on the weekend, or maybe just keep them in my "cool buttons" horde.
posted by wires at 11:27 AM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
I feel like wearing a KETAMINE button would get me some looks, so I'll refrain for now, but this is a cool idea and I'm all for it.
posted by sockermom at 11:48 AM on March 21, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by sockermom at 11:48 AM on March 21, 2019 [6 favorites]
When you “wear your heart on your sleeve,” it means you’re being honest, open, and vulnerable. When you wear your meds on your sleeve, you’re doing the same.
Each button shows a commonly-prescribed mental illness medication. Anyone who wears one of these buttons is signaling that they’re open to sharing their personal story of how the medication helped.
At this point I am so DONE with anti-stigma campaigns (like Bell Let's Talk) that ask me, the person being discriminated against, to make myself "honest, open, and vulnerable" in public.
posted by Secret Sparrow at 12:25 PM on March 21, 2019 [30 favorites]
Each button shows a commonly-prescribed mental illness medication. Anyone who wears one of these buttons is signaling that they’re open to sharing their personal story of how the medication helped.
At this point I am so DONE with anti-stigma campaigns (like Bell Let's Talk) that ask me, the person being discriminated against, to make myself "honest, open, and vulnerable" in public.
posted by Secret Sparrow at 12:25 PM on March 21, 2019 [30 favorites]
@Secret Sparrow: the project's manifesto doesn't mention those of us who do not want to wear these buttons, and I think that population should be mentioned explicitly. I really don't like the implication that people who are medicated who don't want to wear these are dishonest, or closed off, or invalidly fearful of (very possible) consequences for wearing them. You do not want to wear them; that's also a valid and supported choice regardless if the project ever updates their language.
I think that people who're prescribed these drugs who don't want to wear the buttons are just as much the target audience for these buttons as are thoseweirdos normies, uh, humans who aren't currently managing their brain chemicals with pharmaceuticals. At least, I'll be wearing these buttons to make folks like us feel seen, not to make folks like us feel vulnerable.
The more I feel about it, the more I realize that "vulnerable" is a terrible assed word choice here. I mean I take the damn medications to manage the feelings of vulnerability, personally speaking.
I'm also going to be wearing them in a punk rock, leather-jacket-patch-on-a-character-from-Akira, "Good for Health," "Bad for Education" sorta reference. Kinda.
posted by wires at 1:17 PM on March 21, 2019 [4 favorites]
I think that people who're prescribed these drugs who don't want to wear the buttons are just as much the target audience for these buttons as are those
The more I feel about it, the more I realize that "vulnerable" is a terrible assed word choice here. I mean I take the damn medications to manage the feelings of vulnerability, personally speaking.
I'm also going to be wearing them in a punk rock, leather-jacket-patch-on-a-character-from-Akira, "Good for Health," "Bad for Education" sorta reference. Kinda.
posted by wires at 1:17 PM on March 21, 2019 [4 favorites]
I would never ask happy-looking people about their alien cult symbols cause thats how they get you.
posted by Mr. Yuck at 2:21 PM on March 21, 2019
posted by Mr. Yuck at 2:21 PM on March 21, 2019
Not everybody is living in a safe place/situation where they can be open about every single aspect of who they are. Which applies to a lot more things than just pill pins.
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:48 PM on March 21, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:48 PM on March 21, 2019 [5 favorites]
At this point I am so DONE with anti-stigma campaigns (like Bell Let's Talk) that ask me, the person being discriminated against, to make myself "honest, open, and vulnerable" in public.
Done in that you don’t like being asked or done as in you think they’re a bad idea overall?
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 2:57 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
Done in that you don’t like being asked or done as in you think they’re a bad idea overall?
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 2:57 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
not to be confused with weanyourmeds.com, a Tom Cruise startup
posted by sylvanshine at 6:20 PM on March 21, 2019
posted by sylvanshine at 6:20 PM on March 21, 2019
I never refer to clonazepam as Rivotril (the name that is used... almost everywhere but the US (vs Klonopin) it appears).
I mean, what marketing genius came up with this one?? "Let's call an anti-seizure and anti-anxiety medication a combo of Rivet + Drill!"
posted by sylvanshine at 6:27 PM on March 21, 2019
I mean, what marketing genius came up with this one?? "Let's call an anti-seizure and anti-anxiety medication a combo of Rivet + Drill!"
posted by sylvanshine at 6:27 PM on March 21, 2019
This is, perhaps, not a great idea for those of us who take highly trafficked Schedule II meds. I'm already nervous that someone's going to see my Ritalin when I'm taking it for lunch and try and swipe it later. Unfortunately it's illegal in my state to carry it in another container so I'm already constantly flashing it...
posted by brook horse at 6:30 PM on March 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by brook horse at 6:30 PM on March 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
I have mixed feelings about this.
My first thought was, how would I get a button with an entire handful of meds on it?
And then my second thought was, there's no way in hell I'm going to essentially advertise that I'm on multiple scheduled medications. I walk with a cane and thus don't exactly pass as abled, but I'm sure not letting folks in my neighborhood know who to rob.
My third thoughts, bringing these together, is that this is a campaign by and for people who have relative privilege. Class privilege, skin color privilege, people who can say "oh yes, I have this issue, it's just one of those things" and have the person they're talking to hear that. If the person with the button with pills on it is homeless or otherwise visibly a member of a marginalized population, it's instantly a different conversation.
I hope that people who do have the privilege of being taken seriously and staying safe do this. That would be great. But for too many people, this is not a safe thing to do.
posted by bile and syntax at 6:05 AM on March 22, 2019 [9 favorites]
My first thought was, how would I get a button with an entire handful of meds on it?
And then my second thought was, there's no way in hell I'm going to essentially advertise that I'm on multiple scheduled medications. I walk with a cane and thus don't exactly pass as abled, but I'm sure not letting folks in my neighborhood know who to rob.
My third thoughts, bringing these together, is that this is a campaign by and for people who have relative privilege. Class privilege, skin color privilege, people who can say "oh yes, I have this issue, it's just one of those things" and have the person they're talking to hear that. If the person with the button with pills on it is homeless or otherwise visibly a member of a marginalized population, it's instantly a different conversation.
I hope that people who do have the privilege of being taken seriously and staying safe do this. That would be great. But for too many people, this is not a safe thing to do.
posted by bile and syntax at 6:05 AM on March 22, 2019 [9 favorites]
Check it out! Weiss just added this to the FAQs based on online feedback:
There’s no way I could wear this button around my community or workplace without facing discrimination or even getting fired. I don’t feel safe. Does that mean I’m not helpful?
Absolutely not. Being about to Wear Your Meds around your community, workplace, family, friends, etc. without fearing repercussions is possible only because of privilege. I’m a white woman working in a creative field where mental illness is common. For me, there is minimal risk. That isn’t the case for a lot of people, so my hope is that using my own privilege in this way can eventually help out those who can’t speak out.
Not everyone can feel safe wearing the buttons, and that’s okay and doesn’t make you unhelpful or bad or any negative thing. There is no requirement to ever share your story with anyone. But if you do feel safe, speaking openly about your mental illness meds might someday help out those who currently can’t share their stories safely.
And if you are ever discriminated against in the workplace because you have a mental illness, that’s very illegal. You can get info about rights and resources here.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:49 AM on March 22, 2019 [6 favorites]
There’s no way I could wear this button around my community or workplace without facing discrimination or even getting fired. I don’t feel safe. Does that mean I’m not helpful?
Absolutely not. Being about to Wear Your Meds around your community, workplace, family, friends, etc. without fearing repercussions is possible only because of privilege. I’m a white woman working in a creative field where mental illness is common. For me, there is minimal risk. That isn’t the case for a lot of people, so my hope is that using my own privilege in this way can eventually help out those who can’t speak out.
Not everyone can feel safe wearing the buttons, and that’s okay and doesn’t make you unhelpful or bad or any negative thing. There is no requirement to ever share your story with anyone. But if you do feel safe, speaking openly about your mental illness meds might someday help out those who currently can’t share their stories safely.
And if you are ever discriminated against in the workplace because you have a mental illness, that’s very illegal. You can get info about rights and resources here.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:49 AM on March 22, 2019 [6 favorites]
I should mention she's really receptive to feedback and very nice - I'm working with her on getting more links to put up to different resources!
posted by colorblock sock at 9:34 AM on March 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by colorblock sock at 9:34 AM on March 23, 2019 [1 favorite]
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