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Facing Stigma
By Nikki and Anne Heart ♥ November 2, 2023
*Although we wrote this post together, we have chosen to present the following through Mom’s eyes.
Mom's Story: Journey through Stigma
The Stigma Associated with Mental Illness
Facing the stigma regarding mental health, can often present many challenges during your wellness journey.
Over the years, I have become more and more aware of the obstacles my daughter has faced regarding her mental health care. Many of these obstacles were and are still due to the stigma surrounding mental health.
The negative and often unfair beliefs about mental illness, often leaves many people feeling alone and isolated.
It is true that over the past years, mental health awareness has been part of the media conversation.
And it is also true that within the medical community there has been an attempt to have patients open up regarding their mental health.
Unfortunately, there is still a lack of knowledge and understanding pertaining to mental health.
Recently, during a televised report after a mass shooting occurred, the speaker stated, “We need to go after mental health.”
Another comment I frequently hear is, “We don’t have any place to put these people.”
These remarks give a summary of the misinformation and insensitivities surrounding mental illness.
Awareness Helps
If you are a person suffering from mental illness, recognize:
First, you are not alone.
There are many people who live day to day with the pain of:
- Depression
- Negative thoughts
- Anxiety
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Suicidal thinking
Second, the opinion of society is on them and not you.
Third, everyone is different.
First, they are many different types of mental illnesses.
Second, mental illnesses are very common. There are numerous sites available to obtain statistics such as the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Third, recognize the following:
- Prescribing a drug to a person may not be the answer
- Acknowledging mental health wellness is probably a life-time commitment
- Knowing there are no quick fixes
- Without a continuous treatment plan, a relapse may occur
What does this have to do with symptoms of a drug prescription?
A simple answer to this question is — a lot.
Anytime a drug is prescribed, ongoing guidance and knowledge is needed.
Many times when a person is treated with a drug, follow-up isn’t done. Not only on the part of the patient but on the actions of the health care provider.
An example of a follow-up problem is with the current opioid crisis.
Patients who were prescribed opioid for pain relief are being abandoned by their doctors.
Prescription drug withdrawal can cause many negative effects to a person, both physical as well as mental.
Withdrawals can include hallucinations, increased depression, anxiety, negative thoughts, body shakes, memory loss, confusion, paranoia, irritability and agitation.
Unfortunately, with some prescription drugs negative effect can lead to the use of street drugs.
Change is needed in how we think as a society and especially in the medical community.
Listen and you can learn!
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November 9, 2023
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“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”
– Albert Einstein –
Note: All information in “Nikki’s Story and Mom’s Story” are based on detail journals covering seven years of Nikki’s life on prescription drugs.
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