I normalise my thoughts, by writing about my life including my disability and how I feel about that. For those who deal with a disability and mental health issues, they will know more than most, what it's like to live with stigma.
Stigma
When a person is labelled by an illness or disability, when others view them in a negative way because they have personality traits or distinguishing characteristics that are deemed a disadvantage, then they know they're dealing with stigma; where what they deal with is ignored, where no one owns up to admitting they should be included.
Dealing with stigma
You know you're dealing with stigma, when others fail to talk about, or bring what you deal with into every day speak. We can all change our perceptions and the way we choose to look at things. As soon as we do, attitudes will change.
There are days when I struggle with certain aspects of my disability. I have reconciled much of what I deal with, but as I continue to present differently, the stigma never goes away. Does anyone with a disability not face some form of stigma?
If something isn’t working, you seek to understand why, to change how you see what you deal with, through new perceptions. I cannot change how I view and see my world, but others can choose to help me, see my life differently, by talking about what I deal with and bringing what I deal with into my every day.
Society, Mental Health and Inclusivity
Collectively, society has a role to help bring disability and mental health into everyday situations, so that people like me with disabilities can feel inclusive, not exclusive. It is important mental health and illness relating to mental health are talked about, in families, communities and in society as a whole.
Having a mental illness, or a physical, disability needs to be normalised. It is wrong to ignore, label, or judge. As a society, we need to work to rid the world of stigma associated with mental illness, disability, race and gender.
Yes, there are many stigmas out there. They hear things like mental health issues and they automatically assume you're bat shit crazy, which isn't always the case.
This is why I don't mention them. I have learned how to present myself as normal to avoid those problems. The problem is that I'm anything but, most of my life has been spent faking it.
People seem to think my life is so great because I don't have to deal with certain issues, but it's not the case, as I still have issues to deal with that create stigmas.
Thanks Randy. What I like is that you're honest and open about what you deal with. You wear your heart on your sleeve.
Yes, you have things that you deal with in the same way others have things that they deal with, but no matter what anyone deals with, there needs to be support in place. With more understanding there would be less misunderstanding, and less stigmas to deal with.
Stigmas are hard enough, made harder when you're living without the mental and emotional support and you're feeling alone.
Unfortunately, we live in a society which largely endorses stigmatising ideas, without thinking about the impact of these negative attitudes on mental health.
Stigma is a terrible thing and we still have a long way to go before we neutralise stigma, and as you say normalise all the things which are the subject of stigma.
Thanks. Yes, being on the receiving end of stigma isn't pleasant. It's one of those things that you know is there, you know it's happening, and you can't say anything.
But as you say it's a terrible thing. Those of us with a disability will be more aware of what it means to be stigmatised.
It's usually attributable to those who deal with something, so anyone with weight problems, anyone who has a stutter, a child who is made to wear glasses. Anything and everything that changes the way others see you.