So similar. If something makes a weird noise, I automatically think it's going to blow up. During my first psychotic break when I was 14ish, I debated on telling my family what was wrong. It happened whenever my cousin was over for the summer. I was afraid of what they would say because stigma is bad, but also at the time I definitely didn't think anyone would believe me because I didn't think it was me being psychotic since I legitimately thought I was possessed. My cousin convinced me to say something. I'm embarrassed about it. If someone asks my dx I say depression now because I learned people get freaked out if I say schizoaffective bp type. I used to have a habit of telling people I just met about my mental illness. I have poor social skills in general. Also, some people think if you have a mental illness that you're dumb. Just because I don't talk much doesn't mean I'm not thinking. I've had hurtful things said to me pertaining to mental health. Like people referring to the behavior hospital as a nut hut. I see people say like on FB about "lol who let so and so out of the nut hut" then in another post say how they have anxiety. I believe everyone has a mental illness some time on in their life. Actually, my psychiatrist said a lot of the population ends up taking antidepressants by the time they're 50. So yeah, I have a "severe" mental illness, but it's well managed. Genetics and trauma did this, so I gotta take medicine my whole life but that's okay. At least I can get help. If the stigma can lift, I'm sure a lot more people will want to seek help. Sorry that I went off on a tangent. LOL