I have personality and eating disorders, more precisely avoidant, dependant and borderline or emotionally unstable personality disorders and bulimia. All stigmatised diagnoses even among medical professionals.
I have recently completed a 7-week CBT group therapy programme and am currently taking medication for severe depression and anxiety. However, it took me a long time to talk about my mental health issues. About 6 years in fact.
I am ashamed to say that most of my life I have ignored mental health stigma. I am even more ashamed to say that what has woken me up to it, has been my personal experience.
Why so ashamed you might say? We all only tend to care about something once it affects us personally.
“It’s just a few tics, don’t worry about it” was one male friend’s response to my writing about life with Tourette’s. That was someone meaning well. The ignorance, misconception and dismissive attitude towards mental health and neurological issues are far worse online. Progress has definitely been made in encouraging men to talk about mental health but more effort needs to be made in showing people how to listen.
