Sick, Not Crazy
It is stressful to have to keep part of your life hidden from the world, but that is what many people with mental health issues believe they have to do. The reasons why they feel this way vary — some fear losing their jobs if their co-workers or boss found out, others are afraid they might lose family or friend relationships, and many feel that it shows some personal weakness on their part. All of these reasons have one thing in common: they exist because of the stigma that surrounds the mentally ill.
Even with so much information that is easily available to society, there still exists a distinct stigma about people who have a mental illness. They are often thought about in terms like crazy, stupid, dangerous, incompetent, and weak. These myths are based on outdated ideas that are perpetuated by news stories, television shows, movies, and insulting jokes. The result of people believing these myths is that they often fear and reject anyone who has a mental health issue.
The reality is that mental illness is a disease. It is not a sign of poor character, personal weakness, or someone’s tendency for violence. It is a disease process that affects the chemicals in a person’s brain and in most cases, it is manageable, just like diabetes is, if a person is receiving the proper care. Unfortunately, the stigma that surrounds this disease is so ingrained into our society that it often deters someone who might think they have a mental health issue from seeking out the help they need. The results of allowing a mental illness to go untreated can be devastating. It makes it difficult to function, people lose their jobs, families and friends. It can also lead to an increase in suicide attempts. However, many people are beginning to recognize that it does not have to be this way.
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