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Stigma & Mental Illness
Albeit shameful and ignorant that it is almost 2012, and many of us are still confronted with biases. judgements and disparate treatment, I encourage all to hold your head up high. I know what it's like to be looked at differently because of a label, diagnosis or even someones inability to look deeper than the surface.
I often ask myself why some folks behave the way they behave and perhaps I will never find an honest answer. I hypothesize that perhaps there is something in me that may remind someone of themselves or that perhaps that, until recently, I had always functioned so well that those with certain belief systems or stereo-types feel that they are experts on who I am.
I recently posted on ECT and the benefits for me as an individual. Talk therapy is also important because it allows us to process, in a safe and healthy forum, the things that people have said or done to us. I recall when I first requested FMLA at work and a person made the comment "If you cannot report to work maybe you should not work". I was requesting intermittent leave because the stigma and disparate treatment was taking it's toll and this so called healthy individual was so insensitive.
I know we have come a long way but we still have a long way to go. Stigma is one reason some don't admit that something ails them nor seek help. We all have to use our voices, our stories, our expertise (on who were are) and continue to raise awareness about the importance of treating others the way in which one would like to be treated, not selective respect and equality but across the board.
Being good to one another should not be based on pre-conceived notions that certain populations are more worthy than others. We are valuable individuals with strengths, creativity, feelings and we contribute to society wholeheartedly and should always be viewed and treated as such!
Have you been treated differently lately? How did you deal with it?
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Hugs my little Piglit..
Will never go away.
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1 ReactionIt sure won't with that attitude! Just because it's so prevalent in our society does not mean that we have to accept it.
Rox
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1 ReactionIt wont with that attitude. If people would educate themselves and opely discuss things the stigma would eventually lift . The problem with society today is they just don't want to know, some problems are just put into the too hard basket and there always the wrong ones. Piglit
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1 ReactionI'm going to continue as i.m very passionate about this. Rememvber sometime ago I told you my story about Mark. Well there was a stigma attached to his illness. The dr's room was full of stares because he was unwell that's why I sat with him outside. I didn't want him to feel humiliated. I saw him again the other day and things have improved a little for him. He has had the care that he needed and know he is back at him home. The situation he went into removed the stigma attached and this is achievalbe. To be negative about things and say it Will never go away is so wrong positivity is what is required and an understanding to peoples needs Piglit
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1 ReactionI agree. People really do need to educate themselves. I always have felt like eating disorders have a lot of stigma because people think it was my fault I have one. Also doctors just like numbers. They don't care about anything else. When I grow up, I'm actually scared to have kids because I don't want them to get an ED or depression or anxiety. I also think that we all need to be more positive. We have an illness and it is not our faults just like how cancer is not a cancer patient's fault. We need to be proud of who we are and show the world we are just normal people that are trying to live the best life we possibly can.
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1 ReactionYes it is so sad. Plus those people can't afford treatment and most of the time treatment is more like prison than anything else. I mean how can people be motivated to get better in an enviroment where everyone thinks that every thought that comes into your mind is crazy.
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1 Reactionso true my dear
I guess what I struggle with is how we are suppose to get people to understand. I mean, I feel like we can't really protest without people still thinking "well their crazy" or something like that, you know? I feel there is so much pressure on us to NOT make a mistake while we're trying to change things because if we do, well that just fuels their stigma.
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3 ReactionsYou are very insightful! They can call us crazy and problematic but that's their ignorance and biases talking. Google all the famous human beings whom have made great contributions to our world who also lived with challenges.
Regardless, of how they try to label us we are intelligent, creative, hard workers, compassionate, skilled, articulate, empathetic and overall good human beings.
Although, I have been targeted for a long time, I am not the crazy one. The crazy one's are the one's that disobey law's put into place so what others and I have endured does not happen. Sadly, the maltreatment continues but we have to stand tall my dear even when we want to crawl under a rock.
I think that we all deserve kindness and equality even if we have to fight for it. No action equals permission to continue hurting innocent people.
Hugs,
Rox
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