Mental & Physical The Stigma Stories

04/15/2015

04/04/2015

Thank you for your interest in the study “Adolescent Transition to Adulthood: Coping and Influencing Factors” as being conducted by Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. The following information is provided to inform you about the research project and your participation in it. Please read this f…

03/24/2015

On February 1, 2015 (aka “Superbowl Sunday”), FOX News Channel aired my interview on “A Healthy You” with Carol Alt. We discussed SEA CUCUMBER as a natural cancer treatment.

03/23/2015

Posted By Persist

02/20/2015

02/19/2015

I just shared your page and would be honored if you shared mine. Thanks! :)

01/27/2015

By Danielle_, January 9, 2015

I recently pledged to be more open about having a mental illness.Danielle Blog In the past I have experienced stigma which I feel has always held me back from being open. However, since writing and sharing my experiences the positive feedback I have received has been overwhelming. I believe that people being more open and raising awareness can contribute to lowering the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and also encourage people to speak out and seek help.

Just because you can’t see a mental illness as you can with a physical condition, doesn't mean it isn't there

Growing up I always felt inferior and intimidated by other people. With age this only got worse however, at first, I was able to hide it well. My feelings of self hatred grew and affected my thoughts and behaviour- I was constantly down, had no motivation to do anything and wanted to withdraw from everyone and everything, but I kept it to myself. It got to the point where I couldn't hide it from anyone, and when I was 20 years old I was diagnosed with clinical depression. I hid it from as many people as I could as I didn't want to feel a burden, and I was aware and had seen the stigma attached to mental illness. As I began to open up, the response I received was mixed. Many people were fully supportive and were there for me when I needed them- whilst a few others didn't understand as they felt I had 'nothing to be depressed about'. Just because you can’t see a mental illness as you can with a physical condition, doesn't mean it isn't there. However, some people seem to believe that as it's in your head you can control it. That couldn't be further from the truth.

I was worried about what people would think of me

After my diagnosis I was put on anti-depressants but was already caught in a downward spiral before they had time to kick in. I had completely lost control of my mind. I would wish to not wake up in the morning and I thought about taking my own life. I kept this to myself as I had seen how people felt su***de was selfish and didn't want people thinking that of me. I was also worried about what people would think of me, worried that I would become an outcast in my friendship group. During the worst stages of my illness I attempted to take my own life three times. I was even named an attention seeker, one of the worst stigmas I feel that there is.

01/27/2015

For me depression is a very real thing, as I know it is for a lot of other people. It is all consuming and completely debilitating. It leaves me feeling hollow and like I’m merely a body without a personality. My low moods come in waves, but when I am feeling at my lowest I can’t communicate with anyone and completely zone out. I feel like I have a black cloud over my head and everyone around me can see it. I am writing this during a phase where I feel able to communicate – in fact I have just come in from the gym which is the one thing keeping me going at the moment. It quite literally picks my mood up for a short amount of time. It is very difficult to get out the door and to the gym but I make myself always saying to myself “I can’t let this beat me” and I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone else with depression.

01/27/2015

I am 24 years old and currently working for the Probation Service running programmes for offenders. With that in mind, I am normally someone who is very thick skinned and it takes a lot to faze me or bring me down. Unfortunately, I have had a number of very upsetting things happen to me in a very short period of time. These events have resulted in me once again plummeting into a pit of depression; there is no other way to describe it. I am currently signed off work (which I was very reluctant to do as it is in my nature just to carry on and “deal with things”) and I really didn’t want to go back on antidepressants (I have been on them once before). It was a pride thing; I worked so hard to come off them so why should I go back on them again? However my mood has just got lower and lower and I soon realised that I had no choice.

I feel there is a stigma in society around depression

I wanted to describe some of the symptoms of depression that I am experiencing I have seen some doctors over the years that have been brilliant and very understanding and caring but I have also seen more doctors who have been insensitive and made me feel like I was wasting their time. I feel there is a stigma in society around depression. I am embarrassed to tell certain people that I am suffering from it out of fear that they will say “oh just snap out of it” – a phrase which has been said to me before. People need to understand that if people could snap out of it they would do it in a heartbeat because it’s such a horrible thing to live with.

01/27/2015

y Jade_, January 21, 2015

I wanted to write this while I was having a difficult time with depression myself, kind of as an outlet for myself but also as a way to raise awareness. I find that when I’m not suffering from depression it’s very difficult to look back at the phases where I was and pinpoint exactly how I felt as it is a big blur of nothingness and pain.

12/15/2014

To spread awareness, find support, educate and provide information on mental health, and invisible il

08/23/2014

What does mental health mean to you? All donations are tax deductible!!! EIN 46-4130255 Please visit our web page @ www.tripleiiifoundation.org...