It's Mental Health Awareness Month, and that got me thinking....how "aware" are we REALLY? How many people around us may be suffering from an illness, of any kind, and we have absolutely no idea?
For example, there is a woman I know who is a mother, a wife, an employee, volunteer..you know, your "normal, everyday" woman. Happy, busy, tired. Just like most people. Even likes her job. But unbelievably, 99% of her friends and co-workers do not know that she has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and OCD.
Ask her why.
Her fear is not of the typical stigma that these disorders can bring on. It's not fear of being fired or losing friends. It's the fear that she will be treated differently. She is afraid that either her diagnosis will become an excuse for her actions, or in the case of her OCD, that people will be especially careful not to set off any of her triggers. All she wants is to be treated normally. Unfortunately, any special treatment, even if it's positive, only emphasizes the problem. This is something we need to work hard to change.
So, like this woman, many of us choose to keep our differences a secret out of fear. Do you feel the need to keep your mental health a secret, or do you talk about it freely with others?
This month, be kind to the strangers around you. It's good for your mental health, and it might be good for theirs, too!
StigmaHurts is part of the Mental Health Awareness Committee of Ocean County, NJ All comments and questions should be directed to mail@stigmahurts.com