Self Stigma: Why We Shouldn't Feel Bad About Our Treatment

One major issue which people rarely consider, is how the stigma of others adds to self stigma and makes treatment that much more difficult for people. Who already have a lot on their plate to deal with, and creates more issues for them to overcome. 

What can lead to this you ask? The answer isn't as simple as one may think! Wherever stigma comes from. It has the same negative impact on a person,  who wants absolutely nothing else than to feel better, and have a happy healthy life.  Which let's be honest, is unfair to them, I know first hand what self stigma feels like. Even though I have an education. The stigma I've experienced, with people finding out that I have ADHD still sometimes dominates my life.

What stigma does is cause the person who has a valid medical condition, to see it as a weakness. Instead of seeing it for what it actually is, a valid medical condition. In doing so they either stop treatment all together, or self medicate, and instead of fixing and treating the main problem.

When you improve yourself, and having the proper tools and resources. It gives you the ability to see the importance of understanding and getting the proper medical, therapeutic and pharmaceutical interventions. Which will do absolutely nothing, other than make your life better!  

Educating yourself is a part of fighting self stigma, it teaches you to make your mental health a priority. When a person either doesn't  listen to the proper advice, or educate themselves. They become self conscious, and can be hesitant to get the proper medical or psychological support that they  need

Lastly, don't let anyone who calls you down, dictate your mental health treatment and whether or not it defines you as a person. It's not your fault for having a valid medical condition, but a person is in control of whether they educate themselves or not. Don't waste your time on people that will never see anything, outside of their own view points.