Coping with the stigma of mental illness

Despite everything we have learned about mental illness, misconceptions are still common, and those dealing with mental illness feel the stigma. Connect with others who know what it's like here. Share tips for coping, and increasing awareness and understanding of mental illness.

Discussions

Pseudoseizures+conversion movement disorder

JennayB
  • By JennayB · New reply May 16, 2013
  • 9 replies
  • I am confused. My quality of life is much improved yet these pseudoseizures are becoming more frequent and longer lasting. I AM SO EXHAUSTED by people saying I need psychotherapy and "don't be so stressed ...

Socially isolated

PegEudaimoniaStudio
  • By PegEudaimoniaStudio · New reply February 15, 2013
  • 6 replies
  • I can't even take a class on depression offered by a local church without feeling uncomfortable in the group. Any suggestions? I am scheduled to begin attending group therapy at my local CMH soon. However ...

The road to recovery

gerry04363
  • By gerry04363 · Posted January 12, 2013
  • 0 replies
  • The road to recovery can be a smooth ride or as we know it can be extremely bumpy full of uncertainty, but most importantly it is a road where you are willing to have someone else drive for awhile, at ...

Fighting the Good fight

Michael49
  • By Michael49 · New reply December 17, 2012
  • 5 replies
  • This morning I woke up with same feeling of sadness and hopelessness that I have for the past 3 months, I've been depressed before, but have always been healed in 10 day or more. I suffered the lose of ...

Family not around

trina2929
  • By trina2929 · New reply December 1, 2012
  • 1 reply
  • Iam just tired of family I have 5 brother and 4 sisters and I dont get alone with some of my brothers because they dont want to take care of there kids its just a shame.I had my brother kids for a year ...

need help badly

heppy
  • By heppy · New reply November 24, 2012
  • 3 replies
  • please anyone out there...i live in staten island new york, and my husb for the last 11 years is with another woman, I am ready to jump out the window, he just showed me another watch she bought him ...

My ex-boyfriend refuses to seek help

tud51421
  • By tud51421 · New reply August 7, 2012
  • 1 reply
  • My (now ex) boyfriend broke up with me 3 weeks ago because he fears that he is becoming a paranoid schizophrenic and doesn't want to "drag me down" with him as he descends further into illness. Yet he ...

my mother won't seek treatment for psychosis

inthemiddle
  • By inthemiddle · Posted July 22, 2012
  • 0 replies
  • anyone that knows me knows that i have major depression with psychotic features. some people have me labeled, which i've come to accept, for the most part. however, i've seeked treatment, and still do ...

Erasing stigma through music (an orchestra, specifically!)

vtcarrie
  • By vtcarrie · New reply April 12, 2012
  • 2 replies
  • I'm new to this forum and wanted to share with everyone a new nonprofit organization I've co-founded: ME2/orchestra serves individuals with mental health issues and the people who support them. We began ...

iPsycho not so funny

squidged
  • By squidged · New reply December 29, 2011
  • 2 replies
  • Saw an ad today for iCarly episode about a crazy person. After my own trials with mental illness I just didn't think it was funny. How are people supposed to feel any better about their situation when ...

New

angelajhn
  • By angelajhn · Posted November 13, 2011
  • 0 replies
  • hi, I am new, I am not sure what I am suppose to do. you can read my profile and see my life. I am looking to find ways to make life more bearable. I want to stop just taking up space and start living ...

LynneLynne

Lynnelynne
  • By Lynnelynne · New reply October 19, 2011
  • 1 reply
  • What I have been thinking, and thinking about for the last couple of days, why is it when you tell the truth today, no one will believe you? Is it just plain discrimination toward my person, ignorance ...

Outraged

Billboutin
  • By Billboutin · New reply October 5, 2011
  • 21 replies
  • I found this news article on the internet the other day and I am completely outraged by this. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me- kelly-thomas-20110922,0,6115519.story?pa ge=1&utm_medium=feed&track=rss&utm_campa ...

Schizoaffective disorder

Ireland60
  • By Ireland60 · Posted October 3, 2011
  • 0 replies
  • I am looking to connect with others that share this mental illness. Please message me with your story ...

"People With Mental Illness Enrich Our Lives"

dee-ann (Inactive)
  • By dee-ann (Inactive) · New reply October 1, 2011
  • 2 replies
  • Here's 1st installment of our "Mental Health Illness Awareness Week" as personal Bio-Stories: please enjoy & contribute below (or email) your own story/experience. Thanks in advance: HOPE you Enjoy the ...

LynneLynne

Lynnelynne
  • By Lynnelynne · New reply August 21, 2011
  • 2 replies
  • I have told my regular pcp, about all of this harassment, and he had the nerve to ask me if I imagined it? He has been treating me for 4 years, and should know me by now. I don't imagine anything, never ...

Living healthy Mentally

ColleenEnnis
  • By ColleenEnnis · New reply August 13, 2011
  • 2 replies
  • I am mentally ill with severe depression. I have taken special medications to help and stopped drinking since Jan. 13th, 2006. Before my illness I faired quite well and maintained a healthy life. Now ...

We All Need Each Other To Lean On

briandbsa
  • By briandbsa · New reply July 30, 2011
  • 3 replies
  • It's nice to know that we have a community of friends out there that we can discuss our feelings and thoughts with...we all need that from time to time. Having just met a new friend through this site ...

Never Judge What You Don't Understand

briandbsa
  • By briandbsa · New reply July 28, 2011
  • 9 replies
  • It's hard to explain to someone who has no clue. It's a daily struggle feeling sick on the inside while you look fine on the outside. If you or someone you know has an invisible illness (Anxiety, Bi-Polar ...

Are there any persons here with DID?

Boring
  • By Boring · New reply June 25, 2011
  • 7 replies
  • I cope with the stigma of being DID by letting very few people know I have this disorder. Once someone does know I have this disorder, I'm treated like a rotting corpse. How have you all managed with ...

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