Stigma & Mental Illness

Posted by Roxie43 @roxie43, Dec 5, 2011

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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Mental Health Support Group.

@roxie43

A wonderful coworker told me yesterday "Girl! don't you know that stigma, racism and discrimination is worse now than ever?". I guess I would like to think that one day we will have a world with just good people in it. That's the optimist in me and it's not a reality...unfortunately...
Rox

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i.m still awake its lunchtiem here lol

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@lizkat

Hi Roxie
Stigma? oh Lord I could write a book from both sides of the fence(patient and provider). The worst stigma I have ever seen is the stigma of the parent who is also mentally ill.

When my X stole my child and then sexually abused her, child protective services took custody of her. Although I had never been charged, nor ever even tried to abuse my child they kept her from me for 3.5 years. All because I attempted suicide 1 time and was hospitalized 1 time.

It was so bad that I stopped telling my shrink and therapist what was going on with my depression. Thank God I have a masters in social work and 20 years experience in mental health, I treated myself by getting medications overseas. That way there was nothing in my medical record to stigmatize me about. That is all over for me, finally, however it isn't over for my daughter.

The stigmatization of my mental illness caused my daughter to be shuffled between 8 foster placements between the age of 24 months and 4 years, they then found another stable foster placement for the final year. My baby is now 2 years behind in school and has reactive attachment disorder. She also had psychosocial dwarfism but is catching up finally.

Stigma is poison.

LizKat

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Im scared to tell anyone about my depression 4 this reason so I tend 2 suffer in silence. Good discussion.

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@lizkat

Hi Roxie
Stigma? oh Lord I could write a book from both sides of the fence(patient and provider). The worst stigma I have ever seen is the stigma of the parent who is also mentally ill.

When my X stole my child and then sexually abused her, child protective services took custody of her. Although I had never been charged, nor ever even tried to abuse my child they kept her from me for 3.5 years. All because I attempted suicide 1 time and was hospitalized 1 time.

It was so bad that I stopped telling my shrink and therapist what was going on with my depression. Thank God I have a masters in social work and 20 years experience in mental health, I treated myself by getting medications overseas. That way there was nothing in my medical record to stigmatize me about. That is all over for me, finally, however it isn't over for my daughter.

The stigmatization of my mental illness caused my daughter to be shuffled between 8 foster placements between the age of 24 months and 4 years, they then found another stable foster placement for the final year. My baby is now 2 years behind in school and has reactive attachment disorder. She also had psychosocial dwarfism but is catching up finally.

Stigma is poison.

LizKat

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I am with ya on this one.

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@lizkat

Hi Roxie
Stigma? oh Lord I could write a book from both sides of the fence(patient and provider). The worst stigma I have ever seen is the stigma of the parent who is also mentally ill.

When my X stole my child and then sexually abused her, child protective services took custody of her. Although I had never been charged, nor ever even tried to abuse my child they kept her from me for 3.5 years. All because I attempted suicide 1 time and was hospitalized 1 time.

It was so bad that I stopped telling my shrink and therapist what was going on with my depression. Thank God I have a masters in social work and 20 years experience in mental health, I treated myself by getting medications overseas. That way there was nothing in my medical record to stigmatize me about. That is all over for me, finally, however it isn't over for my daughter.

The stigmatization of my mental illness caused my daughter to be shuffled between 8 foster placements between the age of 24 months and 4 years, they then found another stable foster placement for the final year. My baby is now 2 years behind in school and has reactive attachment disorder. She also had psychosocial dwarfism but is catching up finally.

Stigma is poison.

LizKat

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Hi all,
I don't think people walk around with a bumper sticker on their forehead that states look at me I have a mental illness. I think one problem among many is the lack of confidentiality. I'm not ashamed in anyway, shape or form but like someone posted "stigma is poison". And, when some folks are aware of genetic information they make judgments. It's a hypocracy really. Are people stigmatized for having diabetes, arthritis etc.? No, but the words alone "mental illness" are stigmatizing but we didn't create these illnesses we are simply unfortunate that we have them.
Every human being has something! No one is perfect but the indifference when it comes to mental illness is disheartening.
Sweet dreams my friends,
Rox

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@roxie43

A wonderful coworker told me yesterday "Girl! don't you know that stigma, racism and discrimination is worse now than ever?". I guess I would like to think that one day we will have a world with just good people in it. That's the optimist in me and it's not a reality...unfortunately...
Rox

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Sad but true!

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@roxie43

A wonderful coworker told me yesterday "Girl! don't you know that stigma, racism and discrimination is worse now than ever?". I guess I would like to think that one day we will have a world with just good people in it. That's the optimist in me and it's not a reality...unfortunately...
Rox

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I know ..

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@roxie43

A wonderful coworker told me yesterday "Girl! don't you know that stigma, racism and discrimination is worse now than ever?". I guess I would like to think that one day we will have a world with just good people in it. That's the optimist in me and it's not a reality...unfortunately...
Rox

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me too

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Stigma is poison someone wrote in an earlier post. This has stayed with me. Stigma ruins lives.
Remember ...you all have rights!
Hugs,
Rox

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@roxie43

Stigma is poison someone wrote in an earlier post. This has stayed with me. Stigma ruins lives.
Remember ...you all have rights!
Hugs,
Rox

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we do all have rights and always remember to stand up for them.You know a woman came on the t.v yesterday and she has done alot of good work with people that are homeless, addicts etc. She stated on this show that all she wanted was for people to walk down the road and acknowledge people who are so less fortunate than we are. You know all it takes is a warm hello and a smile and it would make such a difference to this ongoing stigma wouldn't it? take care piglit

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@roxie43

Stigma is poison someone wrote in an earlier post. This has stayed with me. Stigma ruins lives.
Remember ...you all have rights!
Hugs,
Rox

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Hi Piglit,
What a meaningful story. I'm in agreement because so many times people struggling with mental illness also live in poverty and have suffered so many injustices that someone being kind genuinely gives them HOPE.
Hugs,
Rox

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