Stigma About Mental Illness
People suffering from mental illness often feel stigmatized. They cannot accept that they have a disease: “It cannot be a mental illness”; “Have I gone crazy?”; "How can I have a mental breakdown?". They often use denial.
No effective treatments were available in the past. These patients and caretakers do not know that remarkably effective treatments are available today.
They tend to blame themselves for the breakdown in mental health and the disability they are facing.
"I have brought this on myself”. Others also blame them for it:“You are thinking too much”; "You are not trying”, leading to embarrassment, shame and guilt. They hesitate to seek help. They fear that the therapist too would blame them.
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Most mental illnesses have a medical basis. They are brain disorders, similar to diabetes or hypertension, which have a biological basis. Most mental conditions respond very well to various medical and psychotherapeutic interventions.
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It is important that we do not hesitate to treat mental illnesses because they result in a great deal of suffering and a lot of disability. The quality of life is severely affected.
Most people have substantial recoveries, return to previous levels of functioning. They are able to reintegrate in society and lead productive and successful in life.
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