stigma
People with mental illness represent one of the most deeply stigmatized groups in our culture. Learn more about it here.
Interviews with a Big Black Broad: Session #4
Interviewer: How did your collegiate aspirations relate to your experience with BDD? BBB: Before I begin, I should to warn you that this may be the most bizarre coming of age story you've ever heard. I chose a difficult major in college for two reasons: It was revered as prestigious and lucrative, and I was told that once I graduated from all those years of rigorous study, I would have little to no time for a social life while I practiced my trade. I wanted a career that would keep me so busy that I had no time to dwell on my awful appearance. I also wanted a preoccupation that would provide an understandable reason for why I had no time for romantic relationships—why I would never have children. My plan was to strictly focus on my studies, after which, I'd rely on my friends to satisfy whatever social needs I had. I loved to laugh and discuss politics, philosophy and art. So, I targeted those who majored in these subjects to help me indulge my interests when I wasn't studying my more conservative curriculum. Perhaps every now and then, I would enjoy a casual tryst or two if I was feeling up to it. I'd be a workaholic socialite from now on, I thought. Without time to focus on myself—to obsess over my ugliness, I could avoid what I referred to as "The cloud," which were my severely depressed episodes. My new distractions worked to steady my moods and lessen my obsessions. My grades were almost perfect. I'd even managed to acquire a small but well-coveted grant from the university strictly based on my academic merit. There are ugly people all over the world who are very prosperous, I thought. I studied the careers of very successful, powerful men who were also practicing the trade within the field I was studying. Most of them were single, with few or no children, and no one seemed to criticize their life choices. They weren't stigmatized for not living a conventional life. They were celebrated as playboys in fact. This was one of several observations that solidified my decision to become a playgirl. I could be satisfied with just a great career and friends. No husband. No children. I couldn't really conceive of living what all the other girls had coveted since holding their first doll baby: A "normal" life.
By Anarda Nashai7 years ago in Psyche
The Business of Being Mentally Ill
“It’s all in your head," “Stop worrying," “I wish I had OCD, my house would be spotless," “You don’t LOOK sick." Those of us with mental illnesses have heard these, and various iterations so many times that for the most part, we can block them out. Mental illness IS in fact in our heads, therein lies the problem. If people can’t see it, they assume it isn’t real. Unlike illnesses that are widely accepted and have outward symptoms such as cancer, colds, broken bones, and such, you can’t see a mental illness unless it has taken hold and caused you to leave marks. There are no outward bruises or tubes and wires, just an ongoing battle in your head.
By Michelle Shaver7 years ago in Psyche
Am I Really Alone? - Fighting Mental Health Stigma
When you're feeling great the world is your oyster: Happy, creative, out-going, social... the possibilities are endless. Life may throw you curve balls, but you just bat them back with ferocity and nothing stands in your way.
By Samuel Bastable7 years ago in Psyche
Smile like You Mean It
Catharsis. Someone recently asked me what it felt like to be Bipolar. If I'm honest, I was shocked—it felt like a fundamentally basic question that no one had asked me before. Manic Depression, Bipolar, whatever you want to call it—it’s something I live with, but rarely admit to people. I suppose "live" is the operative word in that sentence; I prefer it to suffer, affected, or handicapped. Those words always make me feel like I should be ill with a temperature, or worse. However, in a way I do suffer, am affected, and when I'm in a depressive swing—handicapped.
By Oliver Raczek7 years ago in Psyche
Mental Health in the Media
Mental Health in the Media has always been a problem in this world. It's amazing and heartbreaking to see what people with illnesses such as depression, schizophrenia, and personality disorders go through on a day to day basis. But the sad truth is, almost no movie or TV show will EVER get a mental illnesses 100 percent correct.
By Simone Rain7 years ago in Psyche
Putting Up a Front Is Dangerous
I’m very good at putting up a front so this is difficult to talk about out in the open, but I’ll do my best. Few know what it is like to grow up with an untreated disability, where my own family denied the fact I needed medication. In high school, I tried very hard to put up a front of positivity. I had no medication to help me stabilize my moods. It was hard to be so positive and smiley all time as I barely had access to therapy.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in Psyche
Crazy
When I had what I call, my breakdown, I was just out of an 18 year marriage. I had four beautiful children, who meant the world to me, no experience in a current job market and I felt alone, rejected, abandoned and very, very sad. My weekend alcoholic, husband had decided to leave me for another woman and I was overwhelmed and devastated. My world had come crashing down and I woke up one morning, sat on the sofa and started to cry uncontrollably. I cried for all of the above reasons, I cried basically, because I just couldn’t stop the tears. After about a week of no signs of the waterworks stopping, my kids started looking at me like I might be, well you know...CRAZY! I decided to ask around about what my lack of emotional control might mean?
By Marsha Morgan Medina7 years ago in Psyche
No, I Don't Think Your Joke Is Funny
The Millennial Generation is known as the generation that is offended by everything. We are told constantly that we take things too seriously, we’re too sensitive, and too self-righteous; we’re seen as a generation that needs to “grow up and stop whining” (Proud). Yet, as the micro, and not so micro, aggressions of our time continue to roar, I think it’s safe to say we have to question what the millennials are offended for. In the case of comedy, we come in contact with jokes which harness sexism, racism, and ableism for their own purposes. This is why I, an over-sensitive, too self-righteous, and concerned millennial, do not think your joke is funny.
By Emily Fritz7 years ago in Psyche
