Beyond Labels…. Beyond Stigma... Beyond staying silent Elaine Fogarty

I’m just an ordinary girl… Working an ordinary job… In an ordinary town… I don’t stand out in a crowd….

But I have a mental illness

I have my share of challenges And… I have my share of challenges of crisis of self-harm issues & of suicidal thinking

Like I said…. Just an ordinary girl But it all still found me…

Mental illness doesn’t discriminate… But sadly… Some people do…. And with that comes STIGMA

There are lots of reasons…. But

Dramatic disparity between Physical & Mental acceptance It seems to me that the Dramatic disparity between Physical & Mental acceptance Comes from a simple lack of understanding

It’s a myth that everyone who self harms Take self-harm….. It’s a myth that everyone who self harms is female

It’s a myth that everyone who self harms is an angst-ridden teenager

It’s a myth that most who self harm are part of a dark sub-culture

It’s a myth that most who self harm are trying to kill themselves

It’s a myth that most who self harm are just seeking attention

That self-harm and mental illness are often strongly linked It’s true though That self-harm and mental illness are often strongly linked and it’s true that self-harm carries with it a horrendous amount of STIGMA

People just don’t understand… They don’t know me… But they judge me

mental illness and my self-harm labels me The STIGMA of my mental illness and my self-harm labels me selfish – attention seeking – frightening unworthy – unintelligent – incapable manipulative --- and --- YES --- WEAK

Stigma labels me weak – but I’m NOT weak I may even be the strongest person you know!

It takes strength most can’t imagine to get out of bed every day and face the world while constantly battling with your own mind

and see the illness staring back To look in the mirror and see the illness staring back To sometimes feel lost and invisible in the middle of your own life

tempt and tease and wear you down To hear thoughts that tempt and tease and wear you down

totally isolated and misunderstood To feel totally isolated and misunderstood and --- yes --- quite often --- scared

especially when there are scars or OCD behaviours It’s tough sometimes especially when there are scars or OCD behaviours that put you under the spotlight and make you vulnerable

I have enough to deal with… I shouldn’t have to deal with stigma too…

I don’t need the judgement the assumptions the whispers the jokes at my expense

Labels belong on clothing and food cans NOT on people.

People shouldn’t be judged and treated differently just because they have a mental illness or because they have rituals or they self-harm

Stigma just isn’t acceptable

It’s not clever or funny It’s not innocent It not justifiable – at all !!

We all have a part to play in this….. We can each make a difference. It doesn’t have to stay this way….

We need to start thinking about mental illness and self-harm and suicidal thinking in the same way we think about physical illness and the challenges it brings

We need to offer empathy in the same way

We need to offer understanding in the same way

practical help and support We need to offer practical help and support in the same way

We need to drop the labels The assumptions The judgements

STIGMA is divisive and dangerous It thrives on ignorance and fear

If together, we find ways to challenge that ignorance and fear …. then mental illness will be… just an illness

And people will be Just people

I decided to be open about my mental illness For just that reason… I have found hope, I have found recovery I’m not a victim anymore

I know STIGMA won’t disappear overnight but I’m here to tell you…. I’m realistic I know STIGMA won’t disappear overnight but I’m here to tell you…. it’s NOT unbeatable !

Small shifts in understanding can make a real difference

So that’s why I invite you to explore what people are saying… about what it feels like to live a life challenged by mental illness

www.bipolarlainey.wordress.com Mine is just one voice… just one story… but I invite you to start your journey here www.bipolarlainey.wordress.com or search Elaine Fogarty on YouTube