Stigma-the shame or disgrace attached to something regarded as socially unacceptable. Personally, I reject and take offense to this terminology. I am a human being just like the rest of you. I have been diagnosed with a mental illness. I detest the notion that as soon as that diagnosis was handed down, “stigma” came attached to it. And here we work to abolish it. Socially unacceptable? To whom? In medicine, Stigma is defined as “a mark on the skin indicating a medical condition”. And in zoology, it is “a colored mark or spot, often resembling an eye”. I have a tattoo representing my life with my disorder. And I wear it proudly. It reminds me every day of the struggles I will face as well as the strength that I possess. And by the last two definitions above, it may well be my own “stigma”. But by no means am I shamed or disgraced. I will continue to teach those around me about mental illness, patience and tolerance. I do hope that I can change the connotation of the word stigma. There is nothing shameful about being proud of who you are.
StigmaHurts is part of the Mental Health Awareness Committee of Ocean County, NJ All comments and questions should be directed to mail@stigmahurts.com