stigma

[DELATEXT]

I've been reading a few posts, learning about others, I have n't been able to work for some time due to severe depression, when I was working I experienced
terrible bullying @ work; I was a nut job, etc, people shunned me rather than supporting me so I quit!
That's why I'm so angry @ the government & oppositions tactics on the mentally ill.
I'm supported by Scottish, Association For Mental Health, who are a great team of people. My previous post outlined the problem I was having even trying to do voluntary work, are there any forums in Glasgow/Edinburgh?
I'd like to hear other views on coping & recovery??

 

[ramboghettouk]

i thought the goverments take was it's all stigma, they're employing a company to do dwp medicals that is famous in america for refusing medical insurance payments on the grounds people aren't ill

I like the stigma argument whether i'll be happy whan some dwp doctor uses it to refuse money i doubt

 

[Still Scarred]

I hate hate hate hate hate the stigmas surrounding mental illness!!!

People think that because I hurt myself I will hurt them! Or because I have depression I am "mental."
Or that because I cut myself I must be "emo".

It isn't fair is it?

xxStillxx

 

[shelly]

yes I hate it

I hate the stigma I over heard someone saying something about prozac and making a joke of it, I felt like having a right go at the person. Mental illness should not be mocked!

 

[ramboghettouk]

When i moved to brent my then girlfriend said i had a chance of a new start and not to tell people i'm schitzoprenic

I did that for 2 years then the dwp sent me the all work questionairre, i had to trawel mental illness places to get a reference, mind in their magazine had a cartoon were the dwp clark is saying "we consider anyone who can fill up the form doesn't need the benefits" anyway after going round mental health places to get a reference, i started feeling people were discussing mental illness in public when i went out in public.

Stigma about mental illness i heard the dwp minister saying he intended to stigmatise those on benefits, as his own stats would show a lot of them are mentally ill

 

[Raina Walks]

I was surprised at work that my boss did not care if I had mental illness she said as long as I could do the work she held nothing against me and continued to be nice to me. My coworkers some were nice others were polite but behind my back were hostile and they would not get close to me. They saw me as different.

I had to quit my job in Nov. 2010 because I was hearing abusive, distressing voices and I could not work under their violent assault. I got some government assistance but getting it long term has proven difficult...I got 15 weeks of benefits and when I applied for long term they said I did not qualify that I was able to do some kind of work...I am in the process of appealing that decision with my fingers crossed that they will change their mind but I am not hopeful after I read their evaluation of me.

I suffer from depression too and post traumatic stress disorder so am totally messed up but am a fighter....almost gave it all up in 2008/2009 but then decided to dig in my heels in this world and fight and that is what I have been doing living day by day when i have to and gradually it turned into month by month. Writing has been my saviour...I write every day and talk into a digital tape recorder when I am unable to write. I also have a social worker for support and a case manager in my community for support as well. I see my doctor once a month but find that very demoralizing...I don't find my visits to my doctor very helpful and every time I go I wonder why I went.

I am reading self help books on recovery from trauma and they have been helpful too as has this forum...I do a lot of group therapy now that I am off work and that also helps...I get a lot of tips on how to cope there and I have a place where I can talk about my challenges with people going through similar or worse than I am.

I cannot do voluntary work or any work right now...just focus on treatment.

So sorry you were bullied...I am quite tall and large so people don't tend to bully me and when they try to bully me verbally I fight back and they back off. I guess my strength is that I am not afraid to be alone in a crowd because I believe that I matter too. Life is not easy with a mental illness....but I am telling myself that with work and support it can be at best manageable.