Fear of stigma is the worst killer of all.

Fear is an emotion we all experience because it is linked to survival. Fear is always emotional and often irrational; yet, major decisions are based on fear factors. One of our greatest fears is the fear of stigma because it leads to discrimination, ostracism and even victimization.
Because the fear of stigma is so great, many sufferers of mental, emotional and physical illnesses fail to get treatment from licensed medical professionals, leaving themselves vulnerable to detrimental complications or emotional devastation. Fear often causes sufferers to neglect treatment for what are often very treatable illnesses.

Merriam-Webster defines "stigma" as a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something. It is an attribute, behavior, or reputation which is judged as unfavorable and leads to discrimination and unfair treatment in a society. It discredits and classifies an individual based on negative stereotypes causing self-rejection and rejection by others. Stigmatization can lead to diminished self-esteem and victimization because it is socially discrediting and even, socially acceptable. When the fear of stigma exists, rather than face negative consequences, many sufferers of emotional, mental, and certain physical illnesses choose isolation or self-medication, while their symptoms go unreported and untreated.

Based on statistics, one in four individuals (25%) will suffer a mental or emotional illness during their lifetime, but most of these occurrences will go unreported. According to an article published by the American Psychological Association, "Americans may be as suspicious of people with mental illness as ever...The Journal of Health and Social Behavior (Vol. 41, No. 2), finds that 68 percent of Americans do not want someone with a mental illness marrying into their family and 58 percent do not want people with mental illness in their workplaces." In certain professions or work industries, seeking help for mental or emotional distress is equivalent to a death sentence. After treatment, credibility is diminished and trustworthiness is all but destroyed.

Psychology professor Patrick Corrigan at the Illinois Institute of Technology blames the news media for the way mental illness is viewed.Those suffering mental, emotional, and some physical illnesses are viewed with suspicion or considered a danger to others and to themselves. Compared to the 1950's, people today are twice as likely to suspect mentally ill people of being violent. Statements linking random acts of violence to mental illness run rampant in today's society. For example, says Corrigan, "If a woman drowns her children, people speculate--the media speculates--that she must be off her medication." Such attitudes create fear of stigma among those who suspect they might be suffering from certain illnesses, so instead of seeking professional help, they opt for alternative, even illicit forms of self-medication.

With the present negative attitudes regarding mental health and its treatment, it's no wonder most people suffering emotional and mental challenges don't seek help. Rather than face stigmatization, many hide their symptoms and choose "quick-fix" options as forms of self-medication for illnesses that are highly treatable by health care professionals. With increasing rates of addiction and suicide, fear of stigma is the greatest adversary and worst killer of all. Isn't it time we stopped condemning people for illnesses beyond their control?

http://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/06/stigma.aspx
http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/mental-illness-stigma.html#.VvXOR-zuZZU.twitter

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I'll just call her Tania, a girl-child born against the odds of ever being loved.

I don't have proof but I know people who do. Angels walk among us. I can talk about it now, but I still can't reveal her name, so I'll just call her Tania, a girl-child born against the odds and never dreaming she'd be on her own with no one to guide her and nothing to indicate she was loved, though she was, if not most of the time at least some of the time, enough of the time for her to grab a moment or two, slip them into her pocket and store them away like precious gems.

That's how she created happiness, moment to moment, one encouraging word and then another until she was nearly thirteen and living in an orphanage where she met Dee but because the older boy was tender and kind, she loved him enough to do him the favor of breaking up before she broke his heart. Still he lingered, tarried, and sought to be near just in case she needed him, which she never did until after he was gone.

It was probably a heart attack because he would never abandon her, but she never knew what happened for sure. She began to regret the fact that she barely even knew him at all and couldn't determine what made him stay through the years knowing she had missed too much love to manufacture enough for even herself. So for a while after turning eighteen, she wandered from town to town hoping she'd see his face across the bar counter or his strong assuring hands serving up drinks while she held out her glass for another round. But it never happened. He had simply vanished.

"Cheers! Cherish the day!" she said after thanking the man at the bar. "I should have had his baby and stayed connected because he was an angel here on earth. I only wish I had some proof that he had been here and somebody once loved me."

"If he was an angel, then he's here right beside you," the older gentleman said. "Why don't you go on home now and crawl into bed." By the time the man had paid for his drinks, Tania was gone.

Somebody I know is an alcoholic but it's a secret they bear each day.

Somebody I know is an alcoholic. Someone you know is an alcoholic. Somebody I know is an alcoholic but it's a secret they bear each day. They know about groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and they could seek help from health care providers or medicaid, but medical records are no secret and many alcoholics fear their information will get shared. They also fear other things – stigma, loss of respect and validation by others, loss of self-esteem, and job loss or lack of promotions.

There is no cure for alcoholism and since it is a progressive disease, it only gets worse over time. The only approach to alcoholism is to 1) stop drinking, 2) join a support group, and 3) stay sober one day at a time. The greatest challenge is to live one day (this day) without alcohol. Whether someone drinks on an hourly basis or yearly basis is not the question. If someone can't handle alcohol, they are either allergic or they are an alcoholic. 

But how do you know if you or someone you know is an alcoholic? There are many tell-tale signs. They might suddenly disappear for several minutes and return in a different mood. Their behavior might become erratic or belligerent. They always drink too much or whenever they drink, something gets out of control. No, it's probably not you. It's probably that they are under the influence of alcohol. 

How do you know you are an alcoholic? You drink too much. You can't drink at all without getting out of control. You deny that you drink too much or that you even drink at all. You hide evidence of drinking. You drink early in the day and can't wait until you get your hands on another bottle.  You only drink on special occasions but one drink is never enough. You need a drink or your bodily functions and reactions will be impaired. These are only a few tell-tale signs of being an alcoholic.

For alcohol abusers, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a good place to start. If you feel your loved one has a problem with alcohol, consider joining Al-Anon, a support group for friends and families of alcoholics.  If you think you have a problem, attend AA meetings. If you don't want to attend meetings in your home time, find a town close by and attend weekly meetings there. Keep in mind, if you see anyone at the meeting, they will be anonymous and so will you. If you happen to know anyone attending the meeting, find comfort in knowing they are in the same situation as you are. Or they wouldn't be there. 

If you are an alcoholic, get help because alcoholism is a progressive disease – it only gets worse. If someone you know has a problematic relationship with alcohol, find answers by attending Al-Anon and asking them to attend AA meetings. After an alcoholic stops drinking, the secret to success in staying sober one day at a time is attending meetings on a regular basis and finding a support group to depend on when the going gets rough.

"Glitches of sunlight reflected in radiant hues" - A poetry writing experience

     Sometimes, I think poetry can save the world. Sometimes, I think it's only meant for me, especially when I think of colors and shadows or the smile in someone's eyes. When it comes to writing poetry, I start with something that makes me feel deeply--a painting, a diamond ring or a simple sunset, like in the photo I took of the most beautiful sky I think I've ever witnessed. After a few weeks of staring at the photo, I added the brief writing below (now a poem in progress). Writing can start anywhere. Sometimes what you write has the colors, rhythm, and nuanced simplicity to be fashioned into a poem. Poetry writing is an art; it's also an experience.

Glitches of sunlight reflected in radiant hues

Just give me a dream to follow
On any given day sprinkled with
Scent of lilac wafting past my window
Settling on morning dew.

Just give me a trace of heaven
Glitches of sunlight reflected in radiant hues
All I need is a simple replacement
For the likes of loving you.

(c) M.H. Johnson
Photo: (c) M.H. Johnson