My Vent

[Linda2962]

My vent?  It's the fact that there is so much stigma still involved with depression and other mental health issues!  "Normal" people just don't get the fact that it could be them or a loved one.  They just don't understand yet!  I guess I'm just frustrated that people think we'll "get over it".  Why is there still so much stigma?  

[Hensley258]

I think the reason that there will always be a stigma attached to severe depression and anxiety dissorder is simply this: The non-sufferer has no way to understand this illness no matter how hard they try. They think they can understand what depression feels like, but in reality they have no clue.

Thus they figure "hey if you can't snap out of it and can't fuction then you must be weak or of low charictar." They think this because their brain can not even begin to understand such a severe mental illness.

I remember watching a show a long time ago about this guy that suffererd a rare disease that did not allow him to remember anything. Even stuff he just did he could not remember what it was, nor could he remember anything or know anything but the present. This guy lived completly in the present because his brain was completly absent of any long or short term memory ability. I remember saying to myself, "I don't get it?" How can one's brain not remember a thing they just did?

In the same way that I could not understand that mans brain, a non-sufferer of depression has no way to understand depression at this level.

Now ith a physical dissability, even a normal person can understand. They will say in their brain Oh yea that's painful, or what a shame because most people know physical pain.

[ILADVOCATE]

I agree but it does a disservice to think of people who don't have depression as "normal". Many people have a disability of some kind whether they acknowledge it or not and in time everyone develops one. Let me not digress with my personal politics but for general advice NAMI friend and family support groups are effective at combating stigma and have active outreach in this regard. I've put the link to IL centers in a fair amount of posts and they have cross disability groups that can be empowering as well. I just say I am a person with a psychiatric disability and as long as I respect the law and society and remain in treatment I should be respected back and the approach I take has been effective as long as its done in a low key manner.

[methangelnomore]

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE STIGMA ATTACHED TO DEPRESSION AT ALL, THERE ARE  A LOT OF PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS ALSO. MY SON TOLD ME TO JUST SNAP OUT OF IT,I TOLD HIM DO YOU THINK I WOULD CHOOSE  TO FEEL THIS WAY? SINCE, I WENT TO MY MD & HAVE STARTED ON WELLBUTRIN MY MOODS ARE GETTING LOT'S BETTER AND I JUST REGRET THAT I DID NOT GO MUCH SOONER. I THOUGHT FOR 6 OR MORE MONTHS I COULD GET OVER IT,BUT, I DID NOT AND I AM JUST NOW SEEING THE RESULTS WITHIN LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. I WISH EVERYONE COULD HAVE A MD LIKE MINE,HE IS AWESOME. GOOD LUCK!

[mesick]

I really know how you feel hon . especially when you go to see a regular Dr. everything is in your head before you ever open your mouth. that really hurts me.they can't seem to understand that just because you have a mental illness you just might have a real physical problem too. people who don't have anyone with these problems really don't understand what you are going through. dont worry about it thuogh , because I've found over the years that most of the" quote" normal people out there are just as sick as we are , they just don't admit it .at least we are trying to get better.just hang in there.