Erasing The Stigma
I once surveyed a group of my peers to ask how many people grew up with any sort of mental health awareness, education, or practice of healthy coping skills. I was not surprised that less than 20% answered “yes”. It is the reality of western culture to ignore and stigmatize mental illness within society, to the point that many people hide their mental health struggles from their friends, families, employers, and the greater community. The shame that society imposes on mental illnesses makes the likelihood of an individual developing unhealthy coping skills even greater.
In this piece, I will analyze the stigma surrounding mental illness, deconstruct the components of shame, and outline the coping skills that either assist or destroy the individual in their journey towards healthy living.
What is “Stigma”?
Social stigma is the disapproval of, or discrimination against, a person based on perceivable social characteristics that serve to distinguish them from other members of society. Social stigmas are commonly related to culture, gender, race, age, intelligence, and health. It is a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person. I don’t believe there is ever an appropriate time to stigmatize anyone, regardless of their circumstance. The stigma becomes an additional obstacle to overcome, in the eyes of society and within the individual themselves. Stigma is not only unhelpful, but it is also downright cruel.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) is used by mental health counselors, therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists alike to diagnose individuals who are struggling with their mental health. The DSM-5 has a great deal of validity — based on the cultural norms of the population studied for its development — but it is used within a larger culture to label (and often times alienate) people for insurance purposes. I am a counselor and I have witnessed firsthand how a diagnosis can alter the way a person perceives themselves or others in their life.
My goal here is not to cast doubt on the DSM-5 or the mental health system, but to merely humanize these labels, minimize the shame surrounding their application, and — in doing so — erase the stigma surrounding “mental illness” for good. Future generations should be aware and able to receive mental health education and help freely.
Historical Societal Shaming
Societal shaming is not a new concept. It is something that we, as a herd species, have been doing forever. The evolutionary purpose of societal shaming has always been to protect the species from internal or external threats. But as we evolve in these post-modern times, we must ask ourselves what threat are we really afraid of?
For a long time, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Intersex Asexual (LGBTQIA) community was shamed, ignored, and deprived of a voice in society. In fact, homosexuality was once a diagnosis in the previous editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. The historical purpose of this shaming was to continue the sexual suppression of the masses. Sexual suppression rooted in a long history of male dominance and religious reign.
It is not difficult to observe the widespread effects of the sexual revolution that occurred between the 1960s and the 1980s that led to newfound freedom in sexual education and expression. Many would, and still do, argue against some aspects of this change in culture, but I think most of us can agree that all people deserve the same basic rights and respect in society. Yet, it still wasn’t until 2015 that gay marriage became federally legal in the United States.
Shaming individuals with mental illness is rooted in the same sort of fear and suppression: fear of the unknown human mind, and suppression of the misunderstood. Many people who suffer from a clinical diagnosis are often discredited within legal and social systems. Their experiences are under constant inquisition even though it is typically those individuals who are mentally ill that tend to be the victim in criminal activity, not the other way around.
Many people fear the “psychotic individual” without realizing that psychosis is not a mental illness, is a state of being that can happen to anyone in a crisis. People can experience psychosis without ever having any sort of mental illness, and many people who commit atrocious crimes, such as rape or murder, do not bear the weight of a diagnosis either. They are in fact members of the greater society that failed to make the right choice and failed to seek mental help. Therefore, what is the basis for shaming the people who are actually trying to better themselves?
Perhaps if more people sought mental help, there would be fewer cases of criminal behavior entirely because our culture would promote a constant practice of mental well-being. Considering that a vast majority of individuals experience a mood disorder or traumatic experience at least once in their lifetime, wouldn’t it make sense to applaud the individual that seeks out help and support? Mental health systems need to be comprehensively designed and thoroughly funded. And socially, we need to let people know that taking medication, going to therapy or support groups, and using healthy coping skills is a responsible, acceptable, and encouraged approach to healthy living.
Coping Skills to Make or Break You
If you’re not practicing healthy coping skills, then it is likely that unhealthy coping skills have slipped into your routine. In my psycho-educational lessons with children, I generally teach that there are 5 types of healthy coping skills:
Releasing Emotions: Therapy, drawing, writing.
Distracting Oneself in Moderation: Reading, listening to music, watching T.V. or playing a game.
Managing Moods: stopping hostile thoughts, deep breathing, medication, exercise.
Introspection: Meditation, prayer, spiritual practices.
Relaxation Techniques: self-care, guided imagery, stretching, sensory grounding experiences.
Each type of coping skill, utilized in rotation as a regular part of one's routine, can open the door to a self-awareness that brings fulfillment, meaning, and purpose to life. It is only through self-awareness that we can have authentic self-expression, and move towards self-actualization which, according to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, is the final level of psychological development.
Unhealthy coping skills are typically developed in the absence of healthy ones. We see unhealthy coping skills in escapists’ behavior, radicalism, self-harm, risk-taking, eating to excess or not eating at all, physical and verbal aggression, and plenty more. By erasing the stigma surrounding mental illness, we give people permission to better themselves in a supportive environment that uplifts and empowers, rather than suppresses, shames, and destroys.
Mental illness is not something to fear in society. Instead, it is something to be informed about. If at any point in life you find yourself particularly low on energy, or disruptively anxious — you would hope that your community would not exile and shame you. People who struggle with mental illness are still just people, and like the common cold during flu season, mental illness can come and go. Mental health is something we must all practice regularly to stay balanced, and as a society, I hope we can commit to erasing the stigma that prevents people from seeking help, for good.