I know for a fact that if I had a traditional “physical disease,” with outwardly visible symptoms, people in my life would be more understanding. For some reason, crippling depression, complex PTSD, and chronic migraine that not only offers blinding pain but impaired cognitive function are “all in my head,” and I should be able to “get over it.”
My family would not be embarrassed or disappointed in me because of my illnesses. My boss and co-workers may not have accused me of “faking it to get out of work,” and maybe I’d still have my job. But I don’t have a traditional “visible disease,” so I must work harder to heal and overcome the stigma others, with no concept of my ailments, place upon me.
A brain tumour is all in the head, but that doesn’t make it any less real/serious/harmful…
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Very good point!
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Love and blessings.. 😘❤️
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I am totally with you on this. The stigma surrounding mental illness is ridiculous.
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I get the same, even though I have difficulty walking, am clearly cognitively impaired and spend most of my time in bed – people are afraid of what they don’t understand. Be well.
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Well the people that say that are the people that care less about us. Move away
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Friends: You look tired.
Me: Yeah, I have a migraine.
Friends: Take a painkiller; we all get headaches. You probably slept late last night, right?
Me:………
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Headaches, lol.
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This stigma surrounding mental illness needs to be erased. As if it isn’t hard enough for depressed (as an example) people anyway, they also have to deal with people questioning their credibility on top of everything else.
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This post pretty much sums up the stigma which surrounds mental health problems and other invisible diseases. It also pretty up sums up societies views on it, and how some people respond to how respond to it when you tell them that you have mental health problems. This post needs to be shared around the world xx
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I hope today you remember that you matter, you make a difference, and you are valued and appreciated just as you are. By sharing your story, you are dissipating the stigma; you’re letting others know they are not alone.
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The one about the medication and laying in bed really hits home!
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Living with a chronic illness is impossible to explain unless you’ve been there. I was sick from mold for nearly five years and still feel the effects almost daily. But it’s an elusive illness with multiple and varied symptoms so even when you have physical symptoms (rashes all over your body) people can discount it because “mold sickness” isn’t an actual diagnosis, is it? When I tell people, they often look at me like I grew three heads. People don’t understand what they don’t know. We have to learn to care for ourselves and listen to our bodies no matter what anyone else thinks. My friend Kayli Albert does a great job of writing about chronic illness at https://lymestuff.com/
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I can relate completely! I have been told things like:
“Well, do what I do, I wake up every morning and thank God for giving me another day.”
“Just stop thinking about it so much.”
“You like being a victim.”
“Are you sure your therapist is any good? Because why aren’t you better yet?”
“You need to be more self-disciplined.”
“You’re such a negative person.”
“Attitude is everything.”
“You have a nice husband and a good job. What do you have to be depressed about?”
Most of the time I just roll my eyes internally because I don’t even have the energy to educate people. But maybe I should print out your cartoon and hand out copies!
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Ha, this has cheered me slightly
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I have never related this much to something before…
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This hit home!! As someone who’s going through depression for the last few months..i can say it bugs me to no end when people just give unsolicited “advice”! Like that’s just gonna fix it all.
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You are in physical and mental pain. I really feel for you hun x
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I fear it is something we simply have to live with; happily I do not have to look it in the face on a daily basis but there have been times when the abyss stretched out before me. In my experience the Black Dog is always hunched somewhere, mewling in the background. Science has no answers currently it seems. I wonder if it ever will.
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I know exactly what you mean. hope posts like yours will raise even more awareness and understanding. Thanks also for liking my post and following me.
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LOVE THIS POST! came here to invite you if you could help.
…
Hey, hope you are doing well.
I invite you to read a post of mine where I am gathering links of warriors facing mental health challenges 1st hand to educate people, to raise awareness and acceptance.
I need help from you in fighting stigma.
Here is the link to post..
https://stoneronarollercoaster.wordpress.com/2018/04/27/mental-health-awareness/
Your participation can change life of someone.
Thank you 🙂
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