I suffer from schizophrenia. do you feel better nowrelatively speaking?

Sure, I know exactly what you mean. I have fibromyalgia...the illness some people still think is in the head. So when I go to see a specialist, yeah. I've withheld my mental health record before when I felt it had no bearing on my treatment.

I also detoxed from Xanax after 15 years of use. I withhold that from everyone... even though I'll never ask for a benzodiazepine in my life! Around here, if there's a whiff of addiction, the scrutiny never stops, and services can even be withheld (unofficially of course).

So you're not alone. I'm sorry you've had to experience that treatment. Some day bipolar will not be a big deal. It's treatable!

Sorry, I suppose I was suggesting that schizophrenia is worse. The "mentally ill" tag is bad no matter what. I feel for you. For me, I feel like I scare peopletheir eyes pop out when I tell them I have been diagnosed with schizophrenia. (Am thinking of my neurologist who is spiritual and doesn't necessarily think that hearing voices is enough to be schizophrenic). I usually say that I suffer from psychosis but it is controlled by medication. It sucks. To be labeled mentally itll sucks.

All of us here have varying degrees of severity of a mental illness -- some sound scarier than others but it's the individual's point of view and how she/he believes she/he is seen that contributes most to this type of stigma.

I have a surgical procedure every 2.5-3 months and EVERY time I go in, even though I'm an expert at this now, I get the 'dumbed down' version of my procedure. I'm talked AT like I'm six (I'm 40!) and even my hubby laughs. It's like talking loudly to a blind person. What?! I understand what my limitations are but I am also proud to be in charge of my own body. Fools. They know us not.

Well said Spacekat!!

Yep, it can feel really isolating when we don't feel supported by friends or family, or feel we are treated/spoken to differently because of mental illness. It makes me want to get more involved somehow to erase that 'stamp' of being judged.

You are not alone.

We're all batting for the same side here! :)

People just, "Don't get it!" I live a relatively normal life, keeping my cards close to my chest. But I told a few people I trust about my mental illness.

The UK is even worse at stigmatising us than America is. The Celebrity Tattle doesn't help matters much. But, that's life.

I'm in the UK and I don't feel any stigma.

What is the evidence to assert stigmatisation in the UK is worse, better, the same as in the US?

Fish

The Media and all the A-List b****ks! Also, here in Northern Ireland they love to describe people as being 'Not Wise'. Most times it's harmless enough, but it does signify a certain degree of stigma.

It was like when Ricky Gervais' character in 'Extras' attempted to be a success-at-all-costs A-Lister only to realise that it would eventually lead to Rehab when on Celebrity Big Brother.

Some people love nothing better than seeing others with weakness suffer.

and you have done the research that indicates that it is not the same in the US?

this is after countless US members have complained of the same thing?

I suspect, although, only suspect, that the UK is actually more accepting. We have a great tradition of Great British Eccentrics that we cherish. I'm not sure they would be seen the same way elsewhere.

But that is only a guess. I have no hard proof and I don't think you do either.

My view is that while stigma is something we can't control, we don't have to accept it. I certainly don't.

Don't feel like a freak. BP is apart of who we are. I recently found out that my mom is embarrassed that I have BP. She's a real heartless bitch though. I literally just connected with her after being estranged for 10 years. She's on a strike one policy with me and I'm done.

Yes MI sure is stigmatizing. We're not freaks. We are people with an illness. On a personal level I was called a freak of nature but then my eyes are different colors and my eyebrows are on the thick side and they tend to grow together if I don't trim them. Plus diagnosed with Tourettes My feeling is being a freak is much better than being someone who ignorant, mean spirited and who can only feel good by putting down others.

Some of it may be the ideals and way the medical field works in Europe. Here in the States it can be different.

I've had BiPolar for 26 years now, I also have 5 other chronic severe medical illnesses that I see my main Dr. for each month, and Specialists every 2 - 3 months, including surgeons. They all know I have BiPolar, but I don't "act" like I have BiPolar. I'm what they used to call "High Functioning BiPolar", which means when I'm not super depressed or my brain is running at a million miles an hour I have 3 Degrees & 2 Certifications. I have a Professional Career and have my entire adult life. When I meet a new Dr. I don't act like I have BiPolar I carry myself just like I do at my office everyday when dealing with my staff. If you go into a Dr.'s office and act like you have a mental illness, and have the "poor me, life is so hard" thing going on they tend to treat you like you have a mental illness. I learned many, many years ago I didn't care to be treated like that, so I made sure that I wouldn't be. The only Dr. that gets my BiPolar reality side is my Pdoc and his job is to treat the BiPolar so he doesn't care.

take care,

I think to some degree there will always be stigma. Because of that, I only tell the closest of the close. The others just think I am a passionate extremist!

I guess I have a different attitude about Mental Illness.

When I have to disclose to someone (usually a doctor) I feel ready to kick ass. Don't you dare try to 1. Trivialize it or 2. Act like I'm weird.
If any of the above happens, I go into my long spiel about what Bipolar is...how it works, where it comes from, until I see the embarrassment on their face or they say they're sorry.
I am a human being like the other 7 Billion human beings on this earth and I refuse to be disrespected.