The Stigma of Mental Illness
The Stigma of Mental Illness
- However, I still hate the term “mental illness.” Those are not words anyone wants to own and it focuses on what is wrong. It is riddled in stigma because it comes from the legal world, the criminally insane, and bad movies that paint the mentally ill as evil or dangerous. I have no problem saying I’m dealing with depression, anxiety, PTSD, suicidal thoughts, mental health challenges etc., but I’m never going to proudly raise my hand to the term mentally ill. I prefer to work on my mental wellness, which is something every human being can get behind. We can have mental wellness challenges in stead of mental illness diagnoses and labels. There is no battle or suffering when the focus is on your wellness. I find mental wellness and mental health as much more tolerable terms, even empowering.
- However, I still hate the term “mental illness.” Those are not words anyone wants to own and it focuses on what is wrong. It is riddled in stigma because it comes from the legal world, the criminally insane, and bad movies that paint the mentally ill as evil or dangerous. I have no problem saying I’m dealing with depression, anxiety, PTSD, suicidal thoughts, mental health challenges etc., but I’m never going to proudly raise my hand to the term mentally ill. I prefer to work on my mental wellness, which is something every human being can get behind. We can have mental wellness challenges in stead of mental illness diagnoses and labels. There is no battle or suffering when the focus is on your wellness. I find mental wellness and mental health as much more tolerable terms, even empowering.
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