What Does Stigma Mean To You?

[Lady of Longbourn]

Which ad? I would like to see?

 

[KP the nut]

I would like to see?

It is being shown in England at the moment.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

I like the whole thing, really like the ending where it was talked about, like it was normal and it's okay to ask. It's good, one of those things that will stick with you, and I haven't seen anything like that in the U.S, so I really have to say yayyy to the U.K for even making the ad and airing it.

 

[Kb3]

I wonder if it was made by someone who has never been affected by mental health issues (yet).

Yes, that was my thought too. Nothing wrong with being a do gooder(can't get enough of them!) but it does seem like the campaign was spear headed by someone who was holding their nose a bit.:)

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Stigma is judgment backed by ignorance. In the lack of ignorance it's just pure hate.

 

[Lucycat]

I'm liking the advert. We get it in Scotland too. I am looking forward to returning to work next week, after a period of sick leave and seeing if this ad has made the slightest bit of difference.

 

[Meadowsweet]

I hadn't seen the ad. I think its a start.

The short length of adverts mean they have to make single point, which in this one seems to be that its ok to ask someone who's been ill how they are...they're not going to make a song and dance, they're not going to crumble, they're going reply as any one else would.

 

[Barberian]

Stigma: The opinion of others about me. I really don't care what people think about me. This is who I am now, for better or worse. It is not necessarily who I will be tomorrow, the next day, next month, etc. When I first started down the slippery slope of PTSD, anxiety and depression I was concerned. That quickly gave way to indiference, and even amusement at times. Watching people recoil when they noticed I was behaving "diferently" than others. To me, it's their problem, not mine. I still have a lot to offer people and society, I just have fewer windows of opportunity to express it. I fully expect PTSD to severly affect me for some time to come, but I am still hopefull that "someday"(tm) it will get better, and I may even conquer it before my deathbed.

A few days ago after my last visit to my shrink, I was feeling particularly anxious. I decided to pick up some Mtn. Dew and Doritoz as a reward for me. I didn't do anything particularly noteworth, but I just felt like I needed a pick-me-up. It was also an invivo(sp?) challenge I gave myself. As I was walking around the store I had a severe tick going on in my neck. I kept flexing all my neck muscles hard involuntarily. This I'm sure was quite the sight. I got a lot of strange looks from people. When I got to the check out stand, my neck was still doing it's thing, and hands were shaking a lot as I put stuff on the check out counter. My hands were shaking even worse when I went to try and get the money out of my wallet, count it and give it to the cashier. I could barely count the my money. She and the bag boy exchanged looks without even trying to be descreit about it. I said "no, I'm not a druggie or alcoholic. It's my nerves". A look of relieve washed over both of them. To me it was quite comical, the whole situation.

So, in summary, Stigma is not something I worry about. It says nothing about the person with the disability, and everything about the person who holds stigma opinion of someone else.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

I hate days like that. Going places and people look at each other like "whoa!". I remember having friends look at me with a shes-f*cking-crazy expression. Or shaking so bad, your hands trembling and your voice shakes. You can tell from there face they notice it.

I think I'll say that next time too, Barberian. It did make me laugh. :D

 

[maddog]

So, in summary, Stigma is not something I worry about. It says nothing about the person with the disability, and everything about the person who holds stigma opinion of someone else.

So absolutely spot on correct Barberian. Truly accepting this fact is sometimes one of the hardest challenges for anyone in overcoming the effects of that stigma.

Your response to your store encounter sounds very healthy and practical. If it can be carried off effectively and authentically, it is no doubt the best way to combat others' attitudes.

I had a similar experience on a train yesterday, when the intrusive presence of a mother and her 7 children sparked enormous anxiety in me, which I was apparently doing a very poor job of hiding, even though I was not actually acknowledging or interacting with these people at all. Their repeated comments/observations as to my obvious "scared" and "anxious" state were very confronting to me.

And no, I didn't respond nearly as appropriately as you did... I simply went on ignoring them, with the result that both my distress and their commentary on it continued to escalate until I got off the train.

There's a long way to go apparently.

Maddog

 

[Kb3]

And no, I didn't respond nearly as appropriately as you did... I simply went on ignoring them, with the result that both my distress and their commentary on it continued to escalate until I got off the train.

(((((hugs)))))Maddog if you accept them. What a horrible situation. The karma police will pay this family back for being bullies.

 

[maddog]

Thanks Eat, hug accepted. Unfortunately the karma police have been getting way too many callouts to my place recently and are refusing to accept any more until I stop calling them so often. They've referred me to a non-Government agency called "stand up and take responsibility for yourself and your behaviour", but their waiting list is huge and I'm unlikely to get in for several years. Seems that lots of people have been referred there, though most don't tend to turn up to their appointments!!

Maddog