Silenced by Stigma

Although I initially learned of my illness over twenty years ago, this weblog is my first attempt at publicly acknowledging it. And even this attempt at being more open is still limited as I've chosen not to use my last name on this blog. Why? I, along with millions of others who have “mental illness,” have been silenced by stigma. Even today, when I've gained enough personal self-esteem that I don't mind(quite so much) what other people think of me, I have to remain aware of how public knowledge of my illness could affect my family. Since I'm not willing to subject them to ridicule or place them in a position where they need to defend my “sanity,” I still feel the need to be careful.

The ongoing stigma and sense of shame surrounding mental illness seems strange in light of the following statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health, which is the largest scientific organization in the world dedicated to the research, treatment and prevention of mental disorders.

Mental Illness in Adults:
20% of Americans or 1 in 5 people over the age of 18, suffer from a mental disorder in a given year
4 of the 10 leading causes of disability(major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder) are mental illnesses.
3% of the population have more than 1 mental illness at a time.
5% of adults are affected so seriously by mental illness that it interferes with their ability to function in society(those affected by severe and persistent depression, panic disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder)
20% of doctor's appointments are related to anxiety disorders such as panic attacks.
8 million people have depression each year.
2 million Americans have schizophrenia disorders and 300,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.

http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih5/mental/guide/info-mental-a.htm

So why does our society still place such a stigma on mental illness over other illnesses such as Diabetes, Heart disease, Lyme disease etc., even though it is so prevalent? An article from the Mayo Clinic, the world's largest, non-profit group medical practice offers some possible answers. The article titled “Mental illness and stigma:Coping with the ridicule,” attributes the use of the word mental in the classification as part of the problem. They relate that by making a distinction between mental and physical illnesses, the terms suggest that mental illnesses are not a legitimate medical condition, although the majority of them do indeed have a biological basis. This causes people who do not have mental illnesses to believe that those affected are to blame and that they should “just get over it,” or that their problems are, “all in their heads.”
Another primary reason given for the ongoing stigma is fear. The article relates that previous media and network portrayals of people with mental illness has encouraged societies perception that people with these diseases are “dangerous,” and “unpredictable,” even though this connection between violence and mental illness is not statistically supported. In our society, though, the media and networks hold a lot of sway over the publics' attitudes and opinions.

There is, however, light on the horizon. From what I have noticed, there is an active campaign by the networks and celebrities to dispel the myths and stigma surrounding mental illnesses. Recently, I have seen Mike Wallace and Brooke Shields speak about their problems with depression as well as Linda Hamilton and Jane Pauley discuss their struggles with bipolar disorders. Additionally, more prime-time network programs are openly dealing with mental illnesses as a family issue through their characters. Both Law and Order CI and Criminal Minds feature main characters who have a family member that has a mental illness, thus showing that those affected by these diseases are someone's loved one, not just some “crazy,” stranger. Hopefully, the next step in this area of awareness will be for the actual main character of such a show to be portrayed as being intelligent, successful and having mental illness. US A's Monk has taken a step in this direction, by showing that a man with obsessive-compulsive disorder is still intelligent and can function as a crime solver, but the comedic format of the show, and the extremely unusual severity of the OCD portrayed, I believe, prevents real promotion of social awareness.

More information on how to cope with and combat the stigma around mental illnesses is available at:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mental-health/MH00076

Dealing Day by Day

Anyone who suffers from Depression and/or Anxiety knows that living a quality life or sometimes, even living at all is a daily struggle. How hard that struggle is on any given day depends largely on how sick you feel. For me, the healthy periods of my life consist of months, sometimes even years of living medication free with only mild depressive symptoms, but still with a high level of chronic anxiety. During these times life is much easier for me and I imagine somewhat closer to what unaffected people enjoy everyday. The sick periods of my life...well, no matter how long they last, it's too long and during those periods I consider it a good day when I've accomplished something,and by that I mean anything at all, whether it is taking a shower or fixing myself something to eat. So how are we to deal with these disorders day by day? For me and many others, the answer lies in the development and use of positive coping skills.

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), the nation's leading non-profit, patient-directed organization focusing on depression and bipolar disorders has published a list of twenty coping strategies for those affected with mood disorders. The author and President of DBSA, Sue Bergeson, makes suggestions that range, in part, from the importance of getting the correct amount of sleep and exercise, to the use of music, prayer, journaling and meditation as a means of focusing thoughts and elevating moods. The strategies listed are easy to do and after reading them, I know that I have used all twenty, in one form or another, throughout my life.

http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=empower_20things

The number two strategy titled “Do One Thing,” especially struck a cord with me. It reads as follows:

Do One Thing: Depression and stress can leave us feeling paralyzed, powerless and helpless. Make a list of things you can do no matter how hard things seem to be. Then do at least one thing each day and check them off your list. Can you take a walk? Can you write a letter or make one phone call? Can you make sure you eat? Make a plan and do one thing to gain back some degree of control in your life.

This suggestion is important to me because it is the underlying strategy that allows me to function in my life. Due to my depression and anxiety issues, I'm very easily overwhelmed. Depending on how sick I'm feeling, even the simplest of things like getting out of bed, daily housework or running an errand can be overwhelming. So I create lists for everything that I have to do in my life, from household and family responsibilities, to school assignments and work requirements. Some of these lists are actually written out, while others are merely in my head. Next, from these lists, I pick out what really has to be done next and break it down into small parts which I then feel more capable of accomplishing. Step by step, I get each thing done. This strategy of listing things and then breaking them down, can be applied to most daily tasks that you will face. The important trick here, though, is not to get upset with yourself about the things left undone on your list at the end of each day. There is always tomorrow for non vital tasks such as housecleaning or errands.

If your having trouble keeping up with vital things such as caring for yourself or children, then seek help from your family or health care professional. If you need immediate help or feel suicidal, you can call the national suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or 911.

More about DBSA: http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=dbsa_aboutdbsa

Why Diagnosis Depression?

Depression, even today the diagnosis and its classification as a mental illness brings with it an unwarranted stigma and/or a sense of shame. People who have Depression and its frequently corresponding anxiety-related disorders often live with their problems in silence due to fears of being labeled as “crazy,” or at the very least “unstable.” Unfortunately, very few people with Depression and/or Anxiety have anyone to talk to about their disease, and even if they did, the very isolating natures of the disorders themselves often prevent the type of sharing that could be beneficial to those who need it most. Additionally, although there are many organizations out there with both physical and Internet sites available to help people with Depression/Anxiety, people with these problems often lack the energy or focus to shuffle through all of the information to find ways to help themselves or to reach out to others who can help them.

It is for these reasons that I decided to start Diagnosis Depression as part of a required assignment for my Writing Arts degree. As you can see from my profile, I am a thirty-nine year old student at Rowan University, in Glassboro, NJ. Since this is a class assignment, my writing on this blog will be reviewed by a professor, which I hope will help you to feel secure that all of the facts and links presented will be of a creditable nature. But just as important, I believe, is the fact that I have a Depressive/Anxiety disorder and have lived with these problems, on and off since being diagnosed at age nineteen. I know what it is like not to be able to get out of bed or to function, at times, even at the most basic of levels. I understand the feelings of frustration and shame that occur as this disease affects everyone and everything in a person's life for either a brief or an extended period of time. In this weblog, I will attempt to filter some of the information out there on Depression and Anxiety and present you with links and ideas that I think can be helpful from the perspective of someone who “has been there.”

I would like to take this moment to stress that if you have visited this site because you or a loved one suspects they have Depression, or have already been diagnosed as having it, please don't think that because I have had a lifelong battle with the disease, you or your loved one will also. Many people have only a single episode related to other illnesses or a trauma in their lives and then never have a problem again. On that note, please understand that this site is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Depression is a serious illness that requires treatment by healthcare professionals. The link below to the National Institute of Mental Health, provides an in depth description of the disease as well as signs & symptoms, treatments and help accessing mental health services in your area. If you or a loved one needs treatment, please seek it. There are other people who understand and can help. Remember, when you are depressed, your thoughts lie to you. You can get better and tomorrow can be a better day. I know, I've been there too.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/depressionmenu.cfm?textSize=M