Prison carries a tremendous stigma with it but at least ex-prisoners can hang out and live near other ex-prisoners. It's basically a sub-culture. Not a great one, but there's plenty of support systems in place.

I have a friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year; she said that as soon as she told friends and family of her diagnosis they were bringing her food, offering to pick things up for her, offering her rides, etc.


Try telling friends and family members that you have a mental illness. HA. They'll let you starve, avoid you like the plague, and on top of it all ask you if you really need to take medication.

I am so bitter about the stigma around mental illness, just about the only people I want to associate with anymore are people with mental illness who are trying to remain stable by being on meds and in therapy - and being on forums like PC.