Tuesday 12 May 2015

#Break The Stigma

I was contacted by Megan from Northwestern University
Megan and her colleagues launched the Break The Stigma campaign this week
To raise awareness around mental health issues 
And the stigmas attached to them
So this post is about how I break the stigma
I guess I am part of a community of bloggers
That blog honestly and openly about how our mental health issues affect us
In my case it is anorexia, bulimia, depression and anxiety and addiction
My goal from the start was to tell the truth about what it's really like to live with these conditions
I think stigmas stem from a lack of education around mental health
And people fear what they don't understand 
Depression and suicide are a huge problem in my country
And around the world 
Through my blog
I hope that people will get an insight in to what these issues are really about
That there is no need to be afraid 
Knowledge is power
I hope that through this campaign
And the hard work of advocates all around the world
We can put an end to the negative stigmas that persist




How do you break the stigma?

6 comments:

  1. Oh, I think this is wonderful
    Our mental health issues do not define us, the same as our physical ones don't.
    My sister has fibromyalgia. She isn't fibromyalgia, it doesn't become an embodiment just because you suffer it, but she has it, it affects her but that doesn't mean that's all she is.
    The same with psychological issues.

    People are scared of them because they don't understand that it's just like any other illness you have to work through and recover from just because you can't see it or measure it.

    I try to break the stigma by talking about what I know to whoever wants to hear it. In conversations with my friends I'm the foremost expert in these things and if you talk respectfully and logically people will listen.
    I've even heard my friends talk about this stuff with other people, taking from what they have learned from listening to me, and living with me, especially in subjects like anxiety and depression.
    There are so many people who dismiss anxiety and depression as attention seeking and unimportant and I just hope I make a little bit of a difference when I talk about these things with others.

    Also, as a future teacher I am going to be so aware of teaching awareness and tolerance and acceptance and that these things are common and very normal. Starting from the ground up <3

    Take care my dear, I'm very proud of you ^^
    Love you to bits <3 You are a wonderful person
    *hugs*

    Mandy xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I whole heartedly agree Mandy
      Our illness do not define us
      We are so much more than that
      We are daughters
      Sisters
      Friends
      Aunties
      Readers
      Writers
      Dog lovers
      Runners
      Swimmers
      Dancers
      We are not just out illness

      I love that you help your friends understand
      You are most definitely breaking the stigma
      And I think you will make a wonderful teacher
      You have so much heart
      And that is a special quality

      Love to you sweetheart x

      Delete
  2. This is so important. There are too many people suffering in silence because of the way other people view their illnesses. The "just snap out of it" mentality needs to end.
    <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know right?
      It's such a patronising thing to say to someone to pull themselves together
      You wouldn't say that to someone with a broken leg or arm
      So why say it to someone who is depressed or eating disordered
      I hope through this campaign and others like it
      That we can educate people
      And arm them with knowledge x

      Delete
  3. how is A angharred and lily what happens to them,do they keep in touch?? x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angharad is just out of hospital
      And has posted recently
      Lilly, I don't know how she is
      She does not want to be in touch with any more
      I'm not sure why

      Delete

Thank you for leaving some love x