Stigma Stinks

Stigma. It's something that surrounds those of us who deal with mental illness. Whether it be being called crazy, or being treated as something that needs "fixing," it can be hard dealing with something so misunderstood. I for one have first-hand experience in this, and it's something that can be extremely hard to deal with.

There are many causes for mental illness including chemical imbalances in the brain, biology and life events. There's usually not one explanation, however, people who deal with a mental illness often are looked at as if there is. Many people in medical and counselling professions look at them as something broken. It's not as easy as finding one solution. Mental illness is very layered.

I am a single person, and would never say that I understand all people who have dealt with mental health problems, even if they are the same as mine. Every person experiences things differently. For myself, it was never as simple as being told what to do. I had to come to find my own coping methods in my own terms, and not by people getting mad at me for not trying the right thing.

Mental illness is misunderstood, and often isolated people who deal with it. Some people find it harder to accept them because they are "different" (while in fact there is such a high percentage of people who deal with it - 1 in 5 people have a mental illness!). Whether it's pitying them or not including them, it makes it tougher. Having a mental illness can deeply affect one's mind, and they already feel isolated enough.

For myself, there are many things that are harder to control. I deal with both bipolar and anxiety. Some days I will feel so anxious that I can hardly function. However, because it's not a physical illness, people often shrug it off. However, having a good mental health is especially important too.

Movies and television shows don't help either. References are made to "psychos" all the time. I remember the horror movie The Roomate where the main antagonist was a girl who suffered from either bipolar or schizophrenia, and by not taking her medication, she was lashing out and attacking people. When the other characters in the film found out about this, they made a big deal about the fact that she suffered with either for these. Of course, in the news, we only hear about mental illness in terms of people with it killing people or an act of violence. This paints them as dangerous. Yes, there are those who are. But definitely not everyone.

I could go on and on about the many stereotypes there are. I think that in the end it's important to be educated about mental health. The fact is that every single person does have a mental health. And just because you have a mental illness, doesn't mean you have a bad mental health, just as having no mental illness doesn't mean you have a good mental health. It's all about self care not only for your body, but also your mind.

I like to speak out about my experiences. There's so many misconceptions out there, and many people who feel extremely alone. It shouldn't be something to be ashamed of. It's important to educate others about it, because it's often the "elephant in the room." I feel that it's time we start learning the truth about mental illness and start challenging the stigma.