stigma
People with mental illness represent one of the most deeply stigmatized groups in our culture. Learn more about it here.
What Social Media Thinks It Knows
In today’s world, many young people are facing struggles with their mental health—with 10-20 percent of youth being affected by a mental illness. I can say that before I knew anything about what it meant to have mental health concerns I was living with it. The Oxford Dictionary definition of mental health is; a person’s condition regarding their psychological and emotional well-being. Society has put a stigma on it, so how are people that are currently struggling supposed to feel? It’s not like we woke up one day and decided that this is how we wanted to live our lives. I didn’t ask to live with depression or suicidal thoughts, but events in my life have led me to this place. I knew that I was feeling lost and alone in my world, and I feared the person I was becoming. I didn’t have any of the tools I needed, or to even know where to start. I struggled with feeling like I was the only person going through this. I felt like I was living on a roller coaster, and I didn’t know how to get off. I felt trapped in my own body. This time last year I hit rock bottom. I didn't know where to go. My world was a dark hole that I couldn't escape. The colorful parts of life were fading away; however, twelve months later I have done a complete flip with my life.
By Kelsey Waddle8 years ago in Psyche
Mental Illnesses: They're Not Just All in Your Head, They're in Your Head
All too often those who struggle with mental illness hear the words “It’s all in your head,” a phrase that implies mental illness is just a figment of our imagination that can be sent away just as quickly as it came. Those with depression may hear “Just cheer up!” Those with anxiety “Just calm down!” Those with bipolar disorder “Just grow up!” And those with ADD/ADHD “Just focus!” Phrases like this indicate it’s a common belief that those with mental illnesses have complete and total control over their disorders. Is it really so simple?
By Heather Terese8 years ago in Psyche
The Borderline of Mental Illness No One Is Talking About
For as long as I can remember I have had feelings of sadness, separation, anxiousness, and just feeling too God damn overwhelmed with being alive. Hear me out. I am not branded with a mental illness nor am I an ambassador for my friends with mental illnesses. But I can't help feel like I am almost always sad or pretending not to be.
By Mollie Mayers8 years ago in Psyche
Breaking the Stigma
Stigma, defined as “a mark of disgrace associated with a quality, circumstance, or person,” is a word that I have heard almost every day of my life. By being a part of the LGBTQ+ community, I am seen by many people as someone who is “lesser” than others, someone who has chosen the life of attraction to not only males but females, as well. But it doesn’t stop there for me. Ever since I was fourteen years old, I have been defined by something that is out of my control. I have been seen as someone who is unworthy of many things and someone who is seeking attention, all because of the mental illness that I did not choose to have. Depression and anxiety, two serious mental illnesses that have unfortunately become more common, are now seen as just another thing that defines people, another part of someone’s personality. It is often seen as only a negative thing; however, through first-hand experience I have noticed that there are positives to these illnesses as well. I believe that every negative comes with a positive, and although it takes a lot of work to notice both sides, it is definitely worth it in the end.
By Allison MacInnis8 years ago in Psyche
The Truth About Mental Illness Stigma
The stigma around mental illness isn’t what we are led to believe. What is the stigma around mental illness? Why is there stigma around mental illness? These are the questions we need to answer before we can begin to solve the problem. If we can’t answer these questions, all our attempts to get rid of the stigma will only cause more problems. The truth about mental illness stigma is that it’s complicated.
By Sahra Penumbra8 years ago in Psyche
Therapy Isn't Selfish. Top Story - April 2018.
Recently, someone boldly announced that therapy was senseless in that it was simply a time where the patient got to talk about themselves for an hour. They went on to imply that this was a selfish act by saying things like, "If you're a person that needs to pay someone to listen to you talk about yourself for an hour... *shrugs* that just seems weird and unnecessary." I didn't know what to say...so I didn't say anything, and then I felt even worse.
By Francis Grace8 years ago in Psyche
Mental Health and Physical Health
Most people should be aware by now that mental illness is becoming popular amongst society. This is a shame. More people are having a battle within their own minds and cannot find a way to help themselves out. I blame this on the fact that most people do not know how to help themselves because in the human race we are trained to defend ourselves against physical harm instead of mental harm.
By Maddie Baldwin8 years ago in Psyche
5 (Not So) Secrets About Mental Health
A few months ago, I was formally diagnosed with bipolar disorder type 2. I've always known something was up, and I've battled with depression my whole life, but there was some sort of weight lifted off of my shoulders when I got an actual diagnosis. It made my mental illness feel valid—a feeling that I should not be having . Your mental illness is always valid, and you don't need a doctor to tell you that. But due to the stigma that surrounds mental health in today's society, a lot of people have very close-minded views on illnesses that we can't actually see. Here are five things I've learned about mental health throughout my own struggles with it.
By Amanda Doyle8 years ago in Psyche
5 Common Misconceptions About Mental Illnesses
As we grow as a society and uncover more truths, mental illnesses start to show themselves more and more. Not because it is more common, but because more people are talking about the problems they are having instead of trying to hide it all the time. This doesn’t mean that people don’t hide their illness, but they are actively seeking help. Stigma is still an issue that is attached to mental illnesses and those that suffer from them. As someone who suffers from severe treatment-resistant depression, I see and hear those stigmas all the time, and a lot comes from people being uneducated about mental health and mental illnesses. Here are five common myths about mental illnesses.
By Richard Bailey8 years ago in Psyche
unABLE To Fail
Robert M. Hensel once said, "There is no greater disability in society than the inability to see a person as more." As a society, we are easily offended when someone labels or judges us by our gender, race, or religion...but many are quick to limit and degrade an entire population because of their medical diagnoses. It's a disturbing, aggravating, and hypocritical characteristic of human nature. I rarely get angry, but when someone uses the term "retard" or associates something as "retarded", it really infuriates me. To mock and put down a person or population living with disabilities is cowardly and disrespectful. Whether it's an intellectual, physical, or emotional disability, we are all still humans on the inside. We are all capable of accomplishing whatever we put our minds towards, regardless of the conditions we are born into. We all feel emotions, wish upon the stars, and chase down our dreams. We all have special talents that make us unique and we all have certain things we're unable to do. No one should be brought down or harassed due to their inabilities. Where we fall in one ability, we rise and shine in other abilities.
By Cory Garner8 years ago in Psyche
