thanks for starting this conversation WS74.

you are not alone. i too have felt stigmatized, not only from the professionals who were claiming to be helping and supporting me, looking out for my 'best interest', but also from those in society who generally are fearful, misinformed, and quite possibly just plain ignorant.

i don't feel that your post should require a 'trigger warning' because i reckon that this is a very honest conversation that should be being discussed, especially on a public forum where people are specifically talking about MH issues and the very professionals who claim to be the ones dedicated to helping solve those MH issues. perhaps those who may find this conversation controversial or offending should really be open to exploring their own underlying biases and fears before they write off what you have to share just because you tagged it with a trigger warning.