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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 group.

piglit | @piglit | Apr 15, 2012
In reply to @roxie43 "I was told by a friend that I am allowing the enemy to win. She told..." + (show)
@roxie43

I was told by a friend that I am allowing the enemy to win. She told me that I should not own other peoples issues. I have known this for some time but for some reason when she called me and said it for the 100th time I thought about long and hard and she’s right.
She said some people are good and some could not begin to show another human being any type of empathy because they are cold and in denial of how horrible they feel about themselves.
Another friend who runs a drug abuse program wrote me and said “Girl, don’t you know racism, differential treatment and stigma never went away”? This pill was hard to swallow but I can understand what she means.
I don’t like seeing people as enemies, except for 1 person, but the truth is we all have to continually protect ourselves because we just don’t know others intentions until proven otherwise.
Then, Delia, spoke about forgiveness and letting go and she is so on point with her insight and advice. I need to let go and stay away from people that do not uplift my spirit even if it means that down the road I make some profound changes.
All said, no matter how good you try to be to others there will always be at least one person who will take out their unhappiness on others.
I have had my share of pain and unhappiness, so this is not an excuse for the behavior, but perhaps I need to have more empathy even for those that trespass because there has to be something really going on with a person who intentionally hurts others.
Here’s to learning how to let go, move forth and praying for those with more internal pain than I have.
Rox….

Jump to this post

Hi lisa. It is hard at times sometimes days are harder than others, I know that you are tired, but I am so very proud of you for being so strong. You do matter to me and others in our community and have become our dear fried. Just remember Sweetie, that tommorrow is always another day. Just keep on looking at your beautiful daffodils and tulips. Imagine beautiful butterflies dancing through them and you we become uplifted. God bless Big hug Always here for you Piglit

REPLY
Lisa4 | @lisa4 | Apr 16, 2012
In reply to @roxie43 "I was told by a friend that I am allowing the enemy to win. She told..." + (show)
@roxie43

I was told by a friend that I am allowing the enemy to win. She told me that I should not own other peoples issues. I have known this for some time but for some reason when she called me and said it for the 100th time I thought about long and hard and she’s right.
She said some people are good and some could not begin to show another human being any type of empathy because they are cold and in denial of how horrible they feel about themselves.
Another friend who runs a drug abuse program wrote me and said “Girl, don’t you know racism, differential treatment and stigma never went away”? This pill was hard to swallow but I can understand what she means.
I don’t like seeing people as enemies, except for 1 person, but the truth is we all have to continually protect ourselves because we just don’t know others intentions until proven otherwise.
Then, Delia, spoke about forgiveness and letting go and she is so on point with her insight and advice. I need to let go and stay away from people that do not uplift my spirit even if it means that down the road I make some profound changes.
All said, no matter how good you try to be to others there will always be at least one person who will take out their unhappiness on others.
I have had my share of pain and unhappiness, so this is not an excuse for the behavior, but perhaps I need to have more empathy even for those that trespass because there has to be something really going on with a person who intentionally hurts others.
Here’s to learning how to let go, move forth and praying for those with more internal pain than I have.
Rox….

Jump to this post

Thank you Piglit! I appreciate your visual of the daffies and tulips with the butterflies. It does make me feel a bit better picturing that. This week has been a real bad one and I admit that sometimes I really want to just end this struggle. My kids and my great hubby are all that keep me going- and now my new friends here. I hope that you are doing well and that you are enjoying your own daffies and tulips. Take care hon and thanks again! Love and hugs from Lisa4!

REPLY
piglit | @piglit | Apr 16, 2012
In reply to @roxie43 "I was told by a friend that I am allowing the enemy to win. She told..." + (show)
@roxie43

I was told by a friend that I am allowing the enemy to win. She told me that I should not own other peoples issues. I have known this for some time but for some reason when she called me and said it for the 100th time I thought about long and hard and she’s right.
She said some people are good and some could not begin to show another human being any type of empathy because they are cold and in denial of how horrible they feel about themselves.
Another friend who runs a drug abuse program wrote me and said “Girl, don’t you know racism, differential treatment and stigma never went away”? This pill was hard to swallow but I can understand what she means.
I don’t like seeing people as enemies, except for 1 person, but the truth is we all have to continually protect ourselves because we just don’t know others intentions until proven otherwise.
Then, Delia, spoke about forgiveness and letting go and she is so on point with her insight and advice. I need to let go and stay away from people that do not uplift my spirit even if it means that down the road I make some profound changes.
All said, no matter how good you try to be to others there will always be at least one person who will take out their unhappiness on others.
I have had my share of pain and unhappiness, so this is not an excuse for the behavior, but perhaps I need to have more empathy even for those that trespass because there has to be something really going on with a person who intentionally hurts others.
Here’s to learning how to let go, move forth and praying for those with more internal pain than I have.
Rox….

Jump to this post

I’m always here for you Lisa as are your other friends. Glad that I helped to make you feel a little better. I always find that if you can focus on something lovely it helps.Stay strong my sweet, you are doing so well and I’m so proud of you . You take care too Will talk soon Love and hugs back Piglitx0

REPLY
Roxie43 | @roxie43 | Apr 18, 2012

Please be kind to one another despite what type of day you are having because we need to be part of the solution not part of the problems.
Enjoy your day all,
Rox

REPLY
1 reply
Roxie43 | @roxie43 | Apr 21, 2012

I should have posted this discussion to a broader audience because people are stigmatized all the time and this is not limited to mental illness.
Stigmatization can be hurtful regardless of the reason…..
Be good to yourselves all…..
Rox

REPLY
3 replies
piglit | @piglit | Apr 21, 2012
In reply to @roxie43 "I should have posted this discussion to a broader audience because people are stigmatized all the..." + (show)
@roxie43

I should have posted this discussion to a broader audience because people are stigmatized all the time and this is not limited to mental illness.
Stigmatization can be hurtful regardless of the reason…..
Be good to yourselves all…..
Rox

Jump to this post

so true Rox it is very widespread over all sectors of communities

REPLY
piglit | @piglit | Apr 21, 2012
In reply to @roxie43 "Please be kind to one another despite what type of day you are having because we..." + (show)
@roxie43

Please be kind to one another despite what type of day you are having because we need to be part of the solution not part of the problems.
Enjoy your day all,
Rox

Jump to this post

couldn’t agree with you more, we do need to look after each other

REPLY
Roxie43 | @roxie43 | Apr 22, 2012
In reply to @roxie43 "I should have posted this discussion to a broader audience because people are stigmatized all the..." + (show)
@roxie43

I should have posted this discussion to a broader audience because people are stigmatized all the time and this is not limited to mental illness.
Stigmatization can be hurtful regardless of the reason…..
Be good to yourselves all…..
Rox

Jump to this post

I know it’s broad and hurtful regardless of the bias ..

REPLY
China | @china | Apr 23, 2012
In reply to @roxie43 "I should have posted this discussion to a broader audience because people are stigmatized all the..." + (show)
@roxie43

I should have posted this discussion to a broader audience because people are stigmatized all the time and this is not limited to mental illness.
Stigmatization can be hurtful regardless of the reason…..
Be good to yourselves all…..
Rox

Jump to this post

Yes obesity race gender drugs culture belief
start another 1.

REPLY
Roxie43 | @roxie43 | Apr 23, 2012

Anyone can still respond because stigma is stigma in any form it’s manifested in.
Rox

REPLY
1 reply
piglit | @piglit | Apr 23, 2012
In reply to @roxie43 "Anyone can still respond because stigma is stigma in any form it's manifested in. Rox" + (show)
@roxie43

Anyone can still respond because stigma is stigma in any form it’s manifested in.
Rox

Jump to this post

so true Rox

REPLY
LizKat | @lizkat | Apr 27, 2012

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

REPLY
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