*enter rant*

I was thinking today about this. The worst part about having MI for me isn't living and dealing with the symptoms. It's the way the world sees me. I constantly feel like I'm being punished when I have done nothing wrong (I mean, obviously I've done some minor things wrong, I'm human after all) and I didn't choose to have a mental illness any more than anyone chose to have a physical illness. But anytime I point out the stereotypes and generalizations that are used against people with MI, even other sufferers have tried to justify it.

Someone once told me, "MI causes bizarre behavior". That's true, most of time one's illness is going to cause some sort of abnormal behavior. However, that behavior is going to be different for everyone, regardless of the diagnosis. It might even be harmless! But somehow we are de facto criminals. My room mate (who has schizophrenia) and I were watching the news the other day and an update about someone in our area who did something terrible (which I won't go into detail about) comes on. This person apparently had no known mental health history before his crime but now all of a sudden the defense is going on about his newly discovered MI. And making it well known to the public.

No one seems to be aware of the grave consequences of this. Because my room mate and I are just two people sitting at home, trying to live the normal lives we, just like any other human being, deserve. But now whenever said diagnosis comes up, people will automatically associate us with his brutal act. Even though some of them know us and know that it would be impossible for either of us to ever even consider doing anything of that sort.

The stigma isn't always that extreme, but nonetheless makes me feel like a second class citizen. For example, a friend of mine was once told that "people with MI shouldn't work in childcare." NOT "people who exhibit x type of behavior should not work in childcare." So the fact that I'm very good with babies and small children, am knowledgable in how to care for them, and love caring for them (one of the few jobs I can say I'd actually enjoy) is completely ignored in this judgment just because I have a mental illness.

Yes, I take meds. Yes, I've been hospitalized. Yes, I've heard voices in the past. Yes, I've overreacted emotionally and cried over stupid things. But instead of taking out a textbook or jumping to conclusions, why not actually have a conversation with me? Ask me about the circumstances, the details, or maybe just get to know me? But I honestly don't see this changing any time in the future. So long as people continue to generalize and justify the stereotypes and slap a MI label on every criminal out there without considering the effect it has on the rest of us who are just people trying to live our lives. You know, that man on the news sure has a lot of people defending his rights to this and that and even defending his horrific actions. It sure would be nice if someone would defend MY rights, the small (and some larger) things those without MI take for granted.

I was going to make a list of all the things I will never be allowed to do because of the blanket generalization of MI, but then I figured people would just give their reasons why they agree with those rules then there would be arguments. That is not the purpose of this thread.

*rant exits*

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by iPhone

*enter rant*

I was thinking today about this. The worst part about having MI for me isn't living and dealing with the symptoms. It's the way the world sees me. I constantly feel like I'm being punished when I have done nothing wrong (I mean, obviously I've done some minor things wrong, I'm human after all) and I didn't choose to have a mental illness any more than anyone chose to have a physical illness. But anytime I point out the stereotypes and generalizations that are used against people with MI, even other sufferers have tried to justify it.

Someone once told me, "MI causes bizarre behavior". That's true, most of time one's illness is going to cause some sort of abnormal behavior. However, that behavior is going to be different for everyone, regardless of the diagnosis. It might even be harmless! But somehow we are de facto criminals. My room mate (who has schizophrenia) and I were watching the news the other day and an update about someone in our area who did something terrible (which I won't go into detail about) comes on. This person apparently had no known mental health history before his crime but now all of a sudden the defense is going on about his newly discovered MI. And making it well known to the public.

No one seems to be aware of the grave consequences of this. Because my room mate and I are just two people sitting at home, trying to live the normal lives we, just like any other human being, deserve. But now whenever said diagnosis comes up, people will automatically associate us with his brutal act. Even though some of them know us and know that it would be impossible for either of us to ever even consider doing anything of that sort.

The stigma isn't always that extreme, but nonetheless makes me feel like a second class citizen. For example, a friend of mine was once told that "people with MI shouldn't work in childcare." NOT "people who exhibit x type of behavior should not work in childcare." So the fact that I'm very good with babies and small children, am knowledgable in how to care for them, and love caring for them (one of the few jobs I can say I'd actually enjoy) is completely ignored in this judgment just because I have a mental illness.

Yes, I take meds. Yes, I've been hospitalized. Yes, I've heard voices in the past. Yes, I've overreacted emotionally and cried over stupid things. But instead of taking out a textbook or jumping to conclusions, why not actually have a conversation with me? Ask me about the circumstances, the details, or maybe just get to know me? But I honestly don't see this changing any time in the future. So long as people continue to generalize and justify the stereotypes and slap a MI label on every criminal out there without considering the effect it has on the rest of us who are just people trying to live our lives. You know, that man on the news sure has a lot of people defending his rights to this and that and even defending his horrific actions. It sure would be nice if someone would defend MY rights, the small (and some larger) things those without MI take for granted.

I was going to make a list of all the things I will never be allowed to do because of the blanket generalization of MI, but then I figured people would just give their reasons why they agree with those rules then there would be arguments. That is not the purpose of this thread.

*rant exits*

one good thing about america is that we do have discrimination laws that say even the mentally ill are treated just like normal people are. there is a department that over sees discrimination and its laws..... the civil rights department, each USA state has at least one civil rights office and most have many depending upon population and state size.

another way to fight discrimination is volunteering with places like NAMI and crisis centers where they have built into their programs mental illness awareness activities. these programs give people with mental illness a platform for educating those in their communities on mental illness in general and more in detail on specific mental illnesses. I have found these agencies to be very helpful in combating stigma and discrimination in my surrounding communities.

From what I've noticed in reports of incidents between law officials and MI sufferers, there is a great ignorance perpetrated by said law enforcement. There are far, far too many heavy-handed incidents by who can only be seen as ignorant, brutal, untrained cowboys.

It's pretty sickening. In the legal system MI sufferers often don't get the civilities afforded to others. All the Police services talk talk talk after tragic consequences go down but the damn stories keep getting reported. The Thin Blue Line is well known for protecting their own as well...I'm sure there are innumerable atrocities that we don't even hear of. Is it getting better? I'm not sure.

Respect to the cops etc., but they need a LOT of work in some areas. The macho cowboy attitude is disrespectful across the board and that attitude seems to be going strong. Officers should be screened far better than they are. The indifferent and ignorant are constantly slipping in purely for the prestige and pay-cheque. That's wrong. It's like politicians trying to do a job without the required character and background. Dig it? It doesn't work well and the people who need help don't get the care and consideration they deserve [and have the right to.]

We here live in mostly civilized countries. It's horrendous elsewhere. These are things to think about too. Yeah it could stand to change all right. Without a voice and responsible protection some of us are not getting what we are entitled to and in some cases sadly dealt much less. Excuse me for this brief rant...the story is huge and complex I do realize. Just a few points on my mind after seeing another story on the news last night.

[splitimage]

I agree that stigma is alive and well, with some illnesses being more stigmatized than others.

4 years ago I was homeless and living in transitional housing. Another woman and I decided to pair up and try renting an apartment together, since neither of us could afford a one bedroom, but we could each afford half of a 2 bedroom.

Staff at the shelter tried seriously hard to talk me out of the plan. Why? Because the other woman has schizophrenia. It was totally controlled by meds, and she was completely asymptomatic. But she had the label.

We've been room mates ever since and get along great. Arguably she's the more stable of the 2 of us, since she got off disability about 5 months ago and is now holding down a full time job, while I can only handle part time work and am applying for disability.

Neither of us disclose our mental health histories, and in my case addiction unless absolutely forced to.

splitimage

Mental health is the most complicated science field since it reaches to the core of how we've shaped ourselves and our surroundings for our entire existence.
So ignorance is to be expected in an overview manner.

But when it comes to the humane manner, the ignorance is harmful.
Instinctively, people feel comfortable when they know someone has a problem confessed, because of competition to feel and be seen as strong. Labeling someone with a mental illness or a personality disorder increases comfort in the masses knowing that they are not in fault in the struggle, yet creates a major downfall for those who have been labeled.
I will re-explain a part of what I said - If someone is labeled with a mental illness or personality disorder, people blindly relate most negative things feeling from them as having to do with their label/s. It gives non-diagnosed or unfamiliar people the increasing comfort knowing that they have absolutely no problem in the struggles (I have experience with an arrogant big brother and an emotionally down-putting father to back me up).
The truth is - people cause each other "mental illnesses". It's not just genetics. People instinctively bully those different "genetics", and Psychology apathetically gives "Because that's how it is" explanations, such as "Humans show hostility towards strange people so the tribal order can continue". I hate those explanations because they ignore the fact that most of us are far away from tribal constructs. And even if we are, are we really just going to accept this apathetic explanation and say "Oh ok, it's normal that some people fall into suffering, because that's our nature"? Because if that's the case, we won't make the planet a better place as High-Tech company so desirably love to spiritually broadcast.

[Unrigged64072835]

I know from personal experience that people with MI are treated unfairly. It's kind of a "sucks to be you" type of attitude.