Stigma is alive and well, unfortunately. I feel it in multiple areas. I even lost friends after my hospitalization. When people saw me really unwell it changed their opinion of me. I lost 2 good friends because of this. I feel it at work too, not so much from coworkers or my supervisor, it mostly comes from the disability nurse at HR. She talks to me like I am stupid, and asks me questions like have there been any problems with my behavior or attendance. I have perfect attendance, and I've never had any performance issues, but she relates to me as if I am a liability. I don't tell most people about my illness because I don't want to change the way they see me. It's been hard to keep it secret lately because I've been in and out of depression for months.

I even stigmatize myself. I judge myself very harshly.