As a woman living with bipolar disorder, I understand mental illness-related stigma. I understand the damage it causes and the impact it can have on a person’s quality of life. But I cannot tell you that I understand the stigma associated with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is, without a doubt, the most stigmatized mental illness.
Bipolar disorder often is associated with intelligence, creativity, highs and lows. But schizophrenia is viewed differently. Society often is confronted with negative imagery: A homeless man or woman, dirt under their fingernails, mumbling to themselves; bars on hospital windows where they are confined and, above all, violence.
The stigma connected to schizophrenia, and to those who live with the illness, is different from that connected to people living with depression or bipolar disorder. It is harder to shatter; it is harder for people to understand.
Stepping out and putting a face and a name to my illness was anything but easy. But more people are doing this, and in doing so, we can lessen the stigma.
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—But I cannot tell you that I understand “the stigma” associated with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is, without a doubt, the most “stigmatized” mental illness.
I am not sure that I agree with your choice of word, “stigma.” I can say schizophrenia is widely misrepresented, and as a result our knowledge is affected, limited.
People with schizophrenia, it is a broad spectrum illness, regularly earn doctoral degrees, and regularly do not. It is that broad a disease. Often it is presented narrowly, but often not, if one searches for illustrations. That one has to search on one’s own is example of the limited information we are given.
Hi,Harold:
First thank you for taking the time to read the interview and respond.
Respectfully, I have to disagree on one point: The word stigma is greatly attached to mental illness. I live with bipolar disorder and I have faced a great amount of stigma since my diagnosis over ten years ago.
Schizophrenia as you state is “widely misrepresented”. But this is, in part, due to the stigma attached to it. But I do agree that the reflection of the illness in society excludes the reality that those with mental illness are accomplished.
Joshua’s story, as well as those within the documentary, are a good example of this.
I believe that both of us have valid points and they are connected.
It’s really important that people, yourself for example, provide your thoughts on the illness–the outcome.
Thank you so much for your opinion,
Natalie