Posted by B2chica on May 10, 2004, at 9:09:05
In reply to The stigma and loneliness of mental illness...., posted by KindGirl on May 10, 2004, at 1:19:37
> 1) Does anyone else here struggle with loneliness in recovery? How do you deal with it? (you come here, yes, but how else?)
don't think i have complete lonliness, i have a few friends that also deal with anxiety or depression so they can relate. Though there are MANY times that i feel utterly alone- i journal, paint, draw. things you would do alone anyway.
i don't know that i "deal" with it, i think i just allow it to be.> 2) How do you all feel about the stigma associated with mental illness (or do you think there is none)?
There is ABSOLUTELY a stigma...i work in the field of people with disabilities, it is all excepted here EXCEPT somehow, there is this separation between people with mental retardation and those with mental illness, as if you can control MI. I have gotten braver and have told several people my Dx that i wouldn't have 6 months ago, those i feel should know. They have all been great.
> Secondly, I find myself lying to people about my mental illness. For instance, with my clients and work associates, I tell them I have a "meeting" on Thursdays and will be unavailable between certain hours, when I am really going to therapy. I also lie about my anti depressants...I tell people they are allergy pills or pills to help me sleep.I think we've all done this. I have a "meeting" every monday at 3:00" :) and those d@mn allergies...i actually got that idea from my good friend who deals with depression, he said he just tells people it's allergy meds.
Sometimes i'll say its for anxiety, what's strange is it's fine for anyone to have anxiety but not bipolar, i just don't understand.-i really think this is an opportunity for me to educate those around me...but since this is still pretty new to me, i'm allowing myself time first.
-I'm usually the personality that doesn't give a flying f*#k what others think of me, but there are a few people here at work that just Irritate me! and i don't want them to know, not cuz i'm ashamed (i don't think) but because they're so NOSEY i don't want to give them the satisfaction. not on this...so they get the allergy story...
Best
B2c.
poster:B2chica
thread:345273
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040503/msgs/345312.html