Mental Health Stigma -- what can we do about it?
Copyright 2005 Sonia Devine
What is Stigma?
Stigma is the use of stereotypes and labels when describing someone, and it is often attached to people who suffer from mental health issues. We don't fully understand how the brain works yet, but one thing we DO know is that it is an organ. Yet our society doesn't readily accept brain disorders the way we accept other organ disorders. Why is this so?
Stigma is a harsh reality for people who have mental health problems, because it prevents them from enjoying a normal and productive life. So many people today feel uncomfortable about mental health issues, despite the fact that there is growing evidence that more and more people are developing these problems.
In fact, many people are so uncomfortable with the stigma that they would rather suffer in silence than get help they need.
Here are a few of the most common misconceptions about mental health problems:
* Mentally ill people have a weak character
* Mentally ill people are potentially dangerous.
* People with mental illness should just "snap out of it"
* Mentally ill people are violent
The media has only further fuelled our distorted beliefs about mental health issues. Frequently, characters on television and in the movies that have a mental illness are depicted as dangerous, unpredictable and violent.
What Are the Effects of Stigma?
If you became ill you would go to a doctor. Once you got better, you would expect to get on with life as usual. But it's not that easy for people who suffer from mental illness. Often, they can suffer from persistent rejections and exclusions by ill-informed members of the community.
Some people have been denied loans, health insurance and jobs because of their history of mental health issues. Consequently, these people lose their self confidence and may develop further anxiety or depression, on top of the issues they are already facing.
I witnessed this first hand many years ago, when my brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia. The majority of his friends deserted him; they weren't able to comprehend or cope with his altered personality and erratic behaviour. Within months he went from being a popular, vivacious and outgoing young man to a shattered, isolated loner. Over the following months, I watched my brother sink deeper into debilitating depression, which ultimately became so unbearable that he took his own life.
What Can We Do?
All of us have times when we feel depressed, anxious or angry.
We might even have a series of bad days, where we think that nothing will ever go right for us and the world is against us. For a mentally ill person, these feelings do not go away.
So the answer lies in education and understanding. If you know someone who seems very emotional, down or upset, then lead by example; show compassion and understanding, and encourage them to seek help. And if you're suffering silently yourself, take comfort in the fact that you're not alone and that there IS hope.
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Are Your Beliefs Spoiling Your Life?
Copyright 2006 Christopher Green
Throughout your life, you have formed a set of values and meanings to make sense of the world you live in. These values and meanings constitute your beliefs and your beliefs are what you hold to be true about life. Your beliefs are at the core of your existence and you wouldn't be the person you are now without them.
Beliefs are very important. The only reason you act and behave the way you do is because of your beliefs. For example, people who believe in God will act in a way conducive with their belief ? praying or going to church for example.
If you don't believe in a God, it is very unlikely you'll pray to one.
This pattern follows in most areas of our lives and here are three very powerful beliefs that can hurt you and spoil your quality of life. They are beliefs common to stress, anxiety and depression and they underpin these illnesses. Do you hold any or all of the following beliefs:
1...
Depression > Are Your Beliefs Spoiling Your Life?
Is Lack of Sleep Making You Fat?
Memphis, TN (ContentDesk) July 7, 2006 -- Women who are getting less sleep than they need could be causing themselves to gain weight, according to new research from Case Western Reserve University.
A study recently completed showed that getting less than 5 hours per night makes a woman 32% more likely to experience major weight gain and 15% more likely to become obese.Dr. Sanjay Patel, lead researcher, said that amount of exercise and quality of diet were also tracked in this study, but they found that the weight gain could not be due to those factors.
Prior studies have shown that after just a few days of sleep restriction, the hormones that control appetite cause people to become hungrier, so we thought that women who slept less might eat more. But in fact they ate less, explained Dr.
Patel.Patel went on to say that there was no conclusive evidence that proved why sleep deprivation leads to weight gain.
The solution to the problem seems simpleget...
Depression > Is Lack of Sleep Making You Fat?
Are Your Beliefs Spoiling Your Life?
Copyright 2006 Christopher Green
Throughout your life, you have formed a set of values and meanings to make sense of the world you live in. These values and meanings constitute your beliefs and your beliefs are what you hold to be true about life. Your beliefs are at the core of your existence and you wouldn't be the person you are now without them.
Beliefs are very important. The only reason you act and behave the way you do is because of your beliefs. For example, people who believe in God will act in a way conducive with their belief ? praying or going to church for example.
If you don't believe in a God, it is very unlikely you'll pray to one.
This pattern follows in most areas of our lives and here are three very powerful beliefs that can hurt you and spoil your quality of life. They are beliefs common to stress, anxiety and depression and they underpin these illnesses. Do you hold any or all of the following beliefs:
1...
Depression > Are Your Beliefs Spoiling Your Life?
How To Improve Your Game With Simple Golf Exercises!
Winter is upon us and you have more time, since you're not golfing?so why not get a jump on next season by doing some simple, in-home golf exercises that will quickly prepare your body to hit LONGER drives and shoot LOWER scores?How many times have you started a new golf season with very high scores, short drives, and aches and pains? Am I talking to you? Let's be honest. It happens more times than you'd like. But why not do it different this time? Instead of going into deep depression that the season is over ? keep golf in the top of your mind by starting a golf exercise program. Don't let your clubs get dusty and forget about your game. Prepare your body in anticipation of next spring.
It's no fun to come off the course feeling spent (in more ways than one) when you could have energy to spare. You have between 4-6 months to greatly improve your strength, flexibility and stamina. It would be the wisest thing to do to improve your golf for next season.When you begin the season...
How To Improve Your Game With Simple Golf Exercises!
Depression > How To Improve Your Game With Simple Golf Exercises!