originally posted on 17-02-2021 8:58 PM

@featuringme wow that sounds so hard to deal with  you're completely right mental health needs to be spoken of freely everywhere, because when you don't speak about it it can easily manifest into something terrible! 

originally posted on 17-02-2021 8:47 PM

Oops, have completely lost track of time recently and forgot this was on! I'll try and get to the other questions later! 

Have you (or someone close to you) ever encountered stigma because you (or they) were struggling? How did it affect you? What did you do?

I'm not sure it's like... an active stigma but I definitely feel like I've faced it a lot when I might suddenly start struggling again and everyone around me is like 'ugh, again? I thought she was getting help for that, I thought we went through this and it was fixed, doesn't she ever learn?'. It feels so bad 

I know a lot of people who have felt abandoned by their friends because they're struggling and they're too anxious/depressed/stressed to hang out. It's so sad and annoying. 

originally posted on 17-02-2021 8:50 PM

oh my gosh yes @Hozzles Like once I relapsed and my friend was so angry at me thinking I had gotten past things and was better and was mad at me for lying 😞 Like, we're doing the best we can..

originally posted on 17-02-2021 9:01 PM

@Lost_Space_Explorer5 that's the worst... like what do you even say when someone accuses you of lying but you're not?  Everyone else is allowed to have some good days and some bad days, but the moment you're struggling it's supposed to be all bad or, if you're recovering, all good. 

originally posted on 17-02-2021 9:06 PM

Yeah.. I think I really had been doing better for a little bit. But relapse happens @Hozzles 😞

Thanks @featuringme 🙂

@hunginc that's tough, I often doubt medical professionals too 😞

originally posted on 17-02-2021 9:07 PM

Haha I love the supportive mental health part of tik tok lol that tells everyone they're valid. Although yeah some social media can have the opposite effect. It's a bit of a gamble

originally posted on 17-02-2021 9:15 PM

@Lost_Space_Explorer5 oh yeah, definitely! There's good and bad parts of social media and it's honestly an effort sometimes to stay in the good parts ahah.

originally posted on 17-02-2021 9:09 PM

@Lost_Space_Explorer5 That Elisa Lam "documentary" on Netflix doesn't help 

originally posted on 17-02-2021 9:18 PM

Next Question!! 😄

 

What brings about stigma? What kind of emotions does it generate both in society and in those that fall into stigmatised groups? How does the cycle of stigma keep going?

 

originally posted on 17-02-2021 9:25 PM

What brings about stigma? What kind of emotions does it generate both in society and in those that fall into stigmatised groups? How does the cycle of stigma keep going?

 

Stigma arises from a lack of awareness, lack of education on the nature and complications of mental illnesses etc.

 

Ambivalence

 

Stigma perpetuates in society through a lack of education and exposure to such mental illnesses etc.

 

 

originally posted on 17-02-2021 9:28 PM

I think the cycle keeps going because some things are so inbuilt that we don't pick up on as easy. It can literally be how people say things like 'oh I'm so ocd' or 'you're crazy' or it can be more subtle like how people are portrayed in the media or even in fictional cases. Like groups of people can be displayed as violent when they aren't. What else could be keeping the cycle going is that people can internalise the stigma so much that they believe society is 'right'

originally posted on 17-02-2021 9:48 PM

@Lost_Space_Explorer5 yes, recognizing the subtle things is so important! Even the little, every day things contribute to greater forms of stigma by making it seem okay and 'normal'.

originally posted on 17-02-2021 9:33 PM

The Sane website has some interesting stuff about stigma (e.g. reducing stigma and self-stigma) and I think they try and tackle stigma in the media

originally posted on 17-02-2021 9:25 PM

Mm I agree with @Hozzles I think it's fear of the unknown or possible threat. It generates hostile and avoidant behaviours in society for the people who agree with the negative views. Probably fear for those who disagree and are scared to say anything. For those who are stigmatised probably anger, sadness, and shame?

originally posted on 17-02-2021 9:21 PM

What brings about stigma? What kind of emotions does it generate both in society and in those that fall into stigmatised groups? How does the cycle of stigma keep going?

Fear, at the very heart of it all, and ignorance. Fear for all kinds of things: fear of being seen as weak, fear of the unknown... etc. Like I said before, if you don't talk about things they twist into ideas darker than themselves. If no one talks about their problems or tries to start a conversation the cycle keeps going.

originally posted on 17-02-2021 9:41 PM

@Hozzles this is so true. I feel like society has designated certain situations and characteristics as "normal". Anyone who presents different circumstances or features may then be met with fear, leading to ignorance and stigmatising.

originally posted on 17-02-2021 9:12 PM

I haven't heard of that one @hunginc, what's it about?

originally posted on 17-02-2021 9:17 PM

@Lost_Space_Explorer5 TW: Death. 21 year old woman who was diagnosed with a mental health condition and was unmedicated which led to her death 

originally posted on 17-02-2021 9:20 PM

Oh wow that sounds intense @hunginc 😮

originally posted on 17-02-2021 8:56 PM

Next question! 

How can people get help or help others who are facing stigma? Has anything  ever helped you or someone you know deal with stigma around struggling?

originally posted on 17-02-2021 9:03 PM

How can people get help or help others who are facing stigma? Has anything ever helped you or someone you know deal with stigma around struggling?

On Instagram, I see a lot of posts that validate struggles and provide positive affirmations. I enjoy reading them, as it normalises struggles and approaches them in a more positive manner. It helps to break down the stigma.

If someone is facing stigma, I think it's important that we show them our support, and that we validate their struggles. We could probably try to educate others about stigmas as well, so that people can change their attitudes. Psychologists and therapists are trained to be non-judgemental, so we can approach them if needed.

originally posted on 17-02-2021 8:45 PM

Have you (or someone close to you) ever encountered stigma because you (or they) were struggling? How did it affect you? What did you do?

I have, by my family mostly. Telling me I was making things up about my mental health and wanted attention. And that I had no reason to feel how I did. And then when they do believe I'm sick they treat me like I'm going to blow up and can't take care of myself. Also they've told me I was faking being in pain regarding my chronic pain and that all I needed to do was x, y or z.

 

Also I've been called names by my friends in the past, based on how I look, or jokes have been made at my expense, or I've been told to be more optimistic. I felt sad and shut down in response to all this 😞

originally posted on 17-02-2021 8:57 PM

@Lost_Space_Explorer5 I'm so sorry you went through that 

originally posted on 17-02-2021 8:49 PM

@Lost_Space_Explorer5 yes, I was thinking more of mental health but physical health is a whole other story, lol. Even with health professionals it's so hard to be believed and feel heard sometimes.