Bullying Due To Mental Health Stigma
Does anyone feel that they have ever been stigmatized, disrespected, or treated unfairly, for having mental illness or another disability?
More respect is needed, towards those suffering with mental illness, and less disrespect, degradation, and diminuitive treatment. Just because a (fabricated) societal stigma was created in an ignorant fashion a very long time ago, it doesnt necessarily make it right, or valid.
Everyone is entitled to equitable treatment, as well as respect. A health condition such as a mental illness, does not make one any different from any other individual in society. It does not affect their intelligence, abilities, talents, or worth. It is also not what defines a person, or all who they are.
If you are being bullied and are coping with mental illness, stand up for yourself, and find out your rights! Nobody should feel they are deserving of any inferior treatment, in any shape or form, due to the fact that they suffer from this medical condition.
Any thoughts are welcome.
I am moving out of my comfort zone here a bit, but it might help in the long run to talk about it. When my illness got to a point that the alters would come out openly, my family believed that I had demons. (Strict fanatic style religious upbringing) Because of this I even developed an alter that believed he was a demon. I was feared, laughed at, ridiculed harshly, and outcast from my family...rather than them seeking professional help for me. The extent of that damage, years later, has yet to be undone.
I am older now and realize that my family was just ignorant and so was I at the time. I had no idea what had truly happened to me. While I don't have contact with most of them still...I have learned a lot and benefit from watching them make that mistake. Now that I know what I am, I don't let myself get close to anyone until they fully understand my disorder and can make an informed choice on how they feel about me being in their life. Those willing to take the time to get to know me, what DID is, and accept me and my alters are the only ones who make it into my network of family and friends. That list is relativity small compared to most people, but it has been true for me that a few good friends is more important than having many friends that don't really know me.
I also believe in letting people know upfront because I have alters who can hurt people's feelings if they don't know what to expect. I have alters that wont even speak to people we know. I am blessed because I now have friends who just wait for me and rejoice when I can talk to them again. It can be hard on the heart when I give people the choice and they choose not to be in my life, but honestly the honesty has rewarded me because I know who I can let in and who to safely keep my distance from.
Has it stopped all of the stigma and negative thoughts about me because of my disability? No. What I have noticed though is that those friends that have accepted me don't let other people speak ill of me without setting them straight. That in itself does so much in helping me regain my self esteem and understanding that I am loveable no matter how different I am.
@TeenyTinyAppy
Thank you for sharing your story. It sounds like you have been through a challenging experience, of having been mistreated due to having mental illness. I think that the manner by which you're surrounding yourself with positive people, even if it is a small circle, is a valuable thing. Associating with supportive people is the best thing that one can do. I am glad that you have been able to find acceptance -- nobody with mental illness should feel that they are "different" from anyone else without mental illness; these conditions are related to one's health, not character or personality flaws, or signs that something is "wrong" with a person.
