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Just recently, I was involved in a crisis situation with a friend who was dealing with severe anxiety and stress. This friend had nobody to turn to except me despite my own personal mental-health issues. Her problem was stereotyping from her own family members. Disregarding my own mental health, I became a support to her. Her own family’s lack of support and harsh treatment of her was disgraceful. At this time, she feels lost and hopeless with no one to care about her in the world.
Stereotyping a mentally ill individual by that individual’s own family is unacceptable. Family should be strongly supportive of the family member who’s having mental health issues because it isn’t their fault. It’s just unfortunate to be struck with mental illness. Myself, I get tormented and stereotyped. Although I hold my head up high, and stay proud of who I am, and who I will be. Most of all, I’m not ashamed, but more blessed that I have a mental illness, bipolar disorder, and that I’m strong enough to deal with it and to maintain the stability of my illness.
I have physical problems also, medical issues, and I receive stereotyping for that too. Most importantly, stereotypers who get pleasure from immature, unintelligent, uneducated remarks are the ones who lack character. It’s not a very appropriate sort of judgment. It shows poor judgment. It’s just not cool.
I’m pleased to say that mental health consumers and all individuals are standing up for their rights by fighting against the cruel world of stereotyping. That also goes for family members of the mentally ill. They should be supportive and get involved with the health and recovery of the mentally ill. I’m proud to say my family loves me and accepts me for the individual that I am, regardless.
There will always be somebody out there to make an ignorant comment. It’s important to stand up for our rights and for the rights of the mental-health community. Every day, the world of mental health is standing up to the world of stereotypes. In the future, as soon as all the stereotyped individuals regain reality, and positive insight, the mental-health community will be at ease. We will feel strong and proud. The importance of my story is that stereotyping is unacceptable whether it’s a mental illness or a physical disability. Stereotyping is uncalled-for and will not be tolerated, no matter what.
I hope this story will benefit any individual, including stereotyping of sexual orientation, race or any personal issue. Stereotyping is just plain inhuman behavior.