Is stigma all bad?
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As time ticks by me and my battle with mental illness rages on; so to does the fight for better care. It’s no secret that the mental health system is in dire need of funding and resources. Sadly, I only see it worsening as we move forward through this pandemic.
Alas, this is but one of this issues surrounding mental health. We also have the constant stigma that seems to go hand in hand with the daily struggles of those who suffer. Finally, there is the deep-seated struggle that resides within those who are ill.
Read Two Tiered System
Overall, I can only conclude one thing; the well minded just don’t get it. Even worse than that, they don’t want to understand. While this is certainly not true of everyone, it nonetheless leaves us struggling to see why when our mental illness comes up in conversation, why many falls silent; Perhaps worse than that, they turn and walk away.
How to talk to someone with a mental illness
But is stigma all bad? Is it possible that this awful approach to illness can have a silver lining? I argue that yes, indeed there could be. Hold on, lt me explain.
Regardless of whether one is mentally ill or not, we all must set boundaries and surround ourselves with positive energy; am I right? What does this mean? Well, as far as I can tell, it means we must welcome the kind and compassionate into our lives and purge the negative and hurtful people who only make life’s challenges worse.
Check out Sick Not Weak, a non-profit organization dedicated to all things mental health.
So again I ask, is stigma all bad? Maybe it’s more helpful for us in those moments when someone turns their back on us or outright avoids you and I like the plague, not to sweat it?
The Road To Mental Wellness is made possible in part by readers like you… thank you for your support.Now, am I saying we should stop fighting stigma? Of course not, what I am saying however, is that on an individual level we can use incidents when we are stigmatized by others as a way to set boundaries or as a method to filter negativity out of our lives. I mean, do we really want someone like that in our lives?
Nah, I’m busy trying to heal and while on my journey, the lat thing I want to do is devote energy into a person who doesn’t get it. I don’t know about you, but personally, I have waaay too much going on to waste my already limited resources on that. Man, I don’t even have the reserves to waste on myself.
In conclusion, I don’t think stigma is all bad, it’s been helpful for setting boundaries with people as I encounter them (individually). At least I know where people like this stand. With that being said, we should remain diligent against stigma as a collective and continue to educate and advocate for better funding and compassion for the inflicted with a mental health condition.
Checkout the book I helped to write:
Lemonade Stand: Vol. III
Created by Josh Rivedal and Kathleen Myre, Lemonade Stand: Vol. III is a compilation of 20 stories from those who have served in the emergency services and the military. In it, the authors talk about their battles with PTSD, a debilitating and for many, a life-long mental illness. So, if you are from the military or emergency service’s, perhaps this book can help you combat the feelings of isolation and fear that frequently comes with post-traumatic stress disorder. Sometimes, just knowing that there are others out there, just like you, can provide you with the strength and courage to speak up and or get the help you need. The intention of this book is to help with that…. You’re not alone.
Also, Lemonade Stand: Vol III was written to help combat the stigma that often accompanies mental illness, best of all, it attempts to give all you served their countries and communities a voice… Which is amazing!
If you are struggling please go here for help: Crisis Services Canada
OR
Checkout our Mental Health Resources Page
Contact me on my Facebook page: The Road To Mental Wellness
, ate well and sought out more than one mental health professional. I wanted to get to the bottom of what was causing me so much pain.
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, I will keep going, even if I have to crawl my way back to the top the mentally healthy mountain.