Schizophrenia Support Group

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a mental disorder characterized by impairments in the perception of reality and by significant social dysfunction. Untreated schizophrenia is typically characterized by demonstrating disorganized thinking and experiencing delusions or auditory hallucinations.

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Mental Health
/ Schizophrenia Support Group

Stigma

strength1979
strength1979
I dont know exactly why, but when people show bad stigma toward my mental illness, i get blown away. It is like your a lepper or somthing. It is a wierd feeling being aleinated. It is almost exactly like what african americans went through, and it is almost surreal to feel that way. African americans must have thought like me, im no different from you but you actually have this in your mind that i am. It is a really wierd feeling. It doesnt get me mad or sad or anything like that, it is just surreal to me that it happens like that. I would be interested in what you guys think of this negative stigma toward you?
deleted_user
deleted_user
I just try to avoid being stigmatized. I am honest with friends and family about my experiences but I know only my sister who also has experienced psychosis knows what I am talking about. Other people do not get to know what I have been through. They just can't process it. If you haven't been there you just don't know.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I avoid stigma by staying away from people who dont have mental illness as well or are pdocs and psychdocs. Sometimes that limits me to online site like this. And makes it lonely in the real world for some people. I am comfortable though.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Yeah...I think its weird too. Also--really stupid. And it does make me angry/sad....
I avoid people--and never tell anyone I'm ill. They will figure that out soon enough...
deleted_user
deleted_user
pull up your pants and wear them with a belt...

you have to either adjust and adopt a way of not throwing it in their face

or not giving a damn and feeling like a victim ...

you have to know that with certain challenges in life comes a certain level of responsibility

chin up brother... try not to over dramatize the state of human development...

it is a work in progress... help it out some when you have a chance... make it into a good thing... give God break and hold your own bottle
malibumark
malibumark
I agree it does suck to be on the receiving end of it. I don't tell everyone. I entrust a few people with my diagnosis. My differences from others has made me focused on taking care of me and my family and friends as my priorities. I have very few friends but they all know I have a diagnosis and are supportive. I think that is what I have learned from having an illness, it does separate me from some but you CAN connect to some who either have a diagnosis as well or who are just loving and accepting. Hang in there and try to stay strong. You can grow from this experience and learn what and who is good for you. Peace.
deleted_user
deleted_user
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFdYqRuqKDM&list=FLk5Dn9GuKAdoSuLffWlf0Iw&index=1&feature=plpp_video
deleted_user
deleted_user
I've experienced the stigma when I tried to become a foster mother. The agency turned me down simply because of my mental disorders, even though I had psychs telling them I was fine.

The stigma is alive and well. We just have to overcome it.
deleted_user
deleted_user
If you can find it... Angels and Demons. It's an Australian TV episode of Enough Rope with Andrew Denton. Not sure if this works as blocked for me says it will work for the US though http://www.hulu.com/watch/292542
deleted_user
deleted_user
well, african-americans back in the day were lynched and hung and not allowed to drink out of the same water fountain as whites, and had burning tires put around their necks, so we are WAY, WAY less stigmatized. it's not comparable.

how do i deal w/ it? i don't tell anyone, and unless they've seen my in psychosis, they'd never know.
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