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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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No problem. Good to see increased positivity from you...
Article on stigma...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glenn-close/mental-illness-the-stigma_b_328591.htmlStory of human cruelty
so sad it just seems to go on and on doesn't it ?
speaking of stigma I saw Mark again the other day and he is doing quite well. Although he doesn't seem to recognize me or would rather not by feeling embarrased. He and I still have the gentle smile that will always connect us as total strangers being able to communicate. He remains in my prayers and always will
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1 ReactionThat's beautiful Piglit. He remembers because you were kind.
And, yes, this workplace nonsense seems to be increasingly becoming worse..
We cannot be inactive and impact + change if we don't say "Thats Wrong!!!!".
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Mental illness comes in many forms . It is rampant in our society. If more people sought help for issues, different things could be avoided. It is a shame that employers get concerned with past treatments. After all, patients who have chronic mental illness/even chronic minor mental illness need help & ongoing medication (most in order to function appropriately). Hollywood has been doing a better job with this: "It's Kind of a Funny Story", "A Beautiful Mind", "Black Swan" and others. What a pity that mental illnesses are ridiculed or stigmatized! Even the healthiest individual(or whom may think that she/he has a healthy mind) may have a personality disorder (innate). If we are more accepting of our differences as people, we can only then learn to love one another and truly respect one another. Mental illness should be looked upon as a gift and not as a curse, although it may feel like a curse at times (or for some, all the time).
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2 ReactionsThank you so much for your post. I agree with you wholeheartedly. As a consumer and a professional I feel that it is a gift that I can genuinely empathize with indivuals living with mental illness. I am not ashamed but it is so hurtful when others are ashamed of me..... This is when it feels like a curse but the ones that are hurting others are the ones with deeper issues than me.
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Rox
wow u r so on point. hollywood is more accepting than health care how sad