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Re: mental illness stigma » rainbowbrite

Posted by JenStar on May 11, 2005, at 19:31:10

In reply to mental illness stigma, posted by rainbowbrite on May 11, 2005, at 18:30:45

I think there is a stigma. The "lucky" ones who never were faced with depression /anxiety /other issues are possibly just talking from an "oh my god thank the lord I don't have that" attitude. It's the same attitude that some thin people take towards overweight people - a kind of holier than thou condecension, as if fat people enjoy being fat and deserve it through some lack of moral character.

And I think some other people are protesting too much. Maybe they suspect that they or someone they love has a mental illness, but they don't want to believe it or face it, and the way to "make it go away" or to conquer it is to make fun of it, in their mind.

I think most of it is ignorance. My doctor told me I'd be surprised if I knew how many people are on anti-depressants or other meds for mental issues. She said it's common and we should not feel bad about it. If someone has cancer, they get chemo. If you have diabetes, you need insulin shots. Mental problems, in her opinion, are the same.

Of course it's easy for her to talk about it like that. But there's no stigma HERE. At least here people understand and empathize!

How many people have you told?

JenStar


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