[hamster-bamster]

This study found that the stigma of migraines equals the stigma of epilepsy. I have had migraines since age 3 and to me the findings are completely off. I have never experienced stigma. In fact, at work I sometimes would cite hypothyroidism or migraines when in reality I was dealing with mental health issues. I do believe in stigma surrounding epilepsy, though. But still I think that outside of depression and anxiety that have been getting more and more mainstream, nothing beats mental health for stigma.

[Curiosity77]

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.

[BipolaRNurse]

Stigma is unfortunately very much alive and well. I broke my toe several weeks ago in a minor car accident and went to the local urgent care center to have it X-rayed. Doc came in, went over my CC and then took a look at my med list. Suddenly he seemed more interested in the last five medications listed than what I'd come in for---read them off out loud as if to say "damn, you're on a lot of psych meds!"

Then when it came time to offer me some pain medication, he looked at me sharply when I told him I wanted Percocet because Vicodin doesn't do anything. He gave it to me, but I could pretty much tell what he was thinking. Well, hell, I may be bipolar but I'm not a drug-seeker, and in fact I only took a grand total of 3 of the Percocet because ibuprofen works better. But you know how it goes......you can be smart, educated, well-spoken, and the only thing some people will see is mentally ill.

[misskrome]

It bothers me but I say let them see it. If I meet an ignoramus who finds out I'm sick, then starts making a spectacle about how I'm going to kill them or snap, I feed on their fears and **** with them in minute and silly ways. Because **** them, that's why. I'm done trying to explain things and justify my need to be alone and have strange and involuntary muscle movements. If I were dangerous, I would have a criminal record. I'm old. I behaved better in high school than most non-sick kids. I went to college, worked my *** off for another decade, had my own house and car, so if anyone wants to criticize me about something I have no control over then they had better have done more with their life than I have. AND I did it all with my hands metaphorically tied behind my back. Let's see them do the same under crushing depression and sleep deprivation.

and delusions and hallucinations. Forgot about that.