Most individuals with mental health problems are affected by stigmas. People who suffer from mental health disorders, whether it be depression, schizophrenia, or any other number of disorders, are not weird or crazy. The brain of these individuals simply functions differently than those who have a stable mental health status. Most people admitted that they are afraid of mental health due to a lack of awareness and stigmas.
Throughout cultures around the world, mental illness has long been stigmatized. The beliefs surrounding the etiology of mental illness ranged from being considered the symbol of the devil to being considered a spiritual punishment.
Stigma has significant implications for people with mental illness and their families. There is a stigma under which significant things become nonsensical, invalidating and painful. It can cause guilt and loneliness. Stigma may also be insulted, insulted and even violated. In the quest for employment and even homes, people with mental disabilities experience discrimination. Stigma also prevents people from finding support or receiving care, thus aggravating and making it harder to treat their symptoms.
Here are some ways you can deal with stigma:
Talk openly about Mental Health: - One of the best ways to fight with Mental Health Stigma is simply talking about it because when we talk, we learn.
Educate yourself and others: - People might attach a stigma to mental illness because they are not educated enough. One can always educate people by sharing experiences.
Show Compassion: - The simple act of showing affection can make someone’s day and they will feel that someone understands.
Be honest about treatment: - We can fight stigma by simply admitting that even we are seeing a therapist.
You are not your illness. Do not define yourself by your illness as other people might. Instead of saying ‘Im schizophrenic’, say ‘I have schizophrenia’. There is power in language.
Learn to accept your condition and recognize what you need to do to treat it, and helping educate others can make a big difference. Joining a mental health support group – either online or in-person – can help you deal with feelings of isolation and make you realize that you are not alone in your feelings and experiences