What Doesn’t Destroy Me Makes Me Stronger

May 14th, 2012 | Leave a comment »
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Stigmas are toxic. When those with mental illness are described as “crazy” or “psycho,” it illustrates how ignorant and asinine society continues to be. Mental health treatments have made significant progress, and we can now attribute many psychiatric diseases to neurochemical imbalances and organic causes. Yet sadly, this age-old stigma remains carelessly intact. Consequently, negative stereotypes inhibit those with mental illness from seeking effective treatments that can be life changing. In turn, many people continue suffering needlessly in an effort to avoid negative judgments from others AND from self.
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Chronic Pain: Searching for Something that’s Certain to Blame Will Lead to A River of Stigma and Shame

May 14th, 2012 | Leave a comment »
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If you are feeling lost and alone with chronic pain you are in good company. I have suffered half of my life with intermittent, debilitating pain. Interstitial Cystitis (IC) has had a wide-reaching effect on all aspects of my life. The long journey from anger and blame has led me to a place of knowledge and compassion. I understand the depths of sorrow that these conditions can cause. I have experienced narcotic dependence, horrible bouts of insomnia, agonizing pain, and at my lowest point, asking my family for forgiveness if I were to end my life. The sheer isolation of suffering with a poorly understood chronic illness finally hit me after my third CAT scan when my physician told me “you are literally full of it.”
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The Unnecessary Shame of Mental Illness: How Society’s Perception of the Disease Has Gone Mental

May 14th, 2012 | Leave a comment »
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THE THINKING DEAD

In the recent second season finale of AMC’s TV hit show “The Walking Dead,” one hot topic amongst fans was the absurd reaction from the beloved group of survivors towards Rick’s alleged secret. News of each character being infected with the zombie disease, even while being fully alive, brewed the beginning of a possible mutiny – An undeserving betrayal from the man who, at least to the best of his ability, kept the whole group alive.

In comparison, this similar epidemic has been experienced by all of us. While actual sufferers of anxiety and mental health illnesses have an unfortunate Mount Everest to climb, those of us without mental health challenges also have brains with faulty wirings needing repair. For some reason, we as a society have a phobia of mental health. Our brains have been programmed to stigmatize those with mental health conditions for no good reason. We must recognize that we are all infected with this contagious, irrational thought processing.
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