Same Problem; Different Address...

In a conversation the other day, I spoke to a friend (Lorraine) about my blog.  She said that she could find a lot to relate to in the topic.  And discussed how problems are similar for many human beings.  What she said basically is that we all have the same problems even though we reside at a different address.  Very interesting thought.  Now,  with the fact that the numbers of human beings struggling with mental illness are high at any given moment, I see a lot of truth in that thought.  I have found out that many people respond to my blog by saying….”me too”.  Now, make no mistake…there are people who indicate that they have no real personal connection with the topic.  This is also OK.  I consider those people to be part of an audience that might benefit from education. 

I am going to go with Lorraine’s thought on this topic.  This is that most of us can relate to having someone in our lives that is suffering from mental illness.  And that is important.  It might not be depression.  It might be schizophrenia.  Or bipolar disease.  Or it might be substance abuse/addiction.  But many of you tell me that you relate.  And I suspect that many of you don’t tell me how you relate.  So, what does that indicate?  That when we talk about stigma, we are talking a wide-ranging issue for people.  As I have said before, we are talking about our mothers.  We are talking about our children.  We are talking about sisters and brothers. We may be talking about our wife or our husband.  We are talking about our families.  This brings the discussion down from the theoretical to the real.  The stigma is about us.  The stigma is about hurting our family.

And so, that is why I am talking to you.  Because not only do I recognize how I have been impacted by the stigma, I see how you have been impacted.  I am truly concerned about that.  If I look at what I have learned about mental illness throughout my lifetime, I am struck by the human waste left in its wake.  Which includes much suffering and many deaths.  So, what does that say about what I hope to accomplish by writing?  Of course, I hope to examine the stigma.  What is real?  What is not?  What does the stigma do to impact the lives of those struggling with mental illness?  And that is the core of this blog.  It is about understanding the facts.  And understanding the stigma.  

So, what do you see in this discussion?  How does it impact you to look at the stigma?  Does it help you to cope with the symptoms?  Does it have meaning for you?  Give me feedback.  If you are willing I would love to include aspects of your story.  I always respect privacy.  But I want you to know that you are not alone.  And talking leads to that realization.  Contact me today.  My contact information is on my blog.  I can be reached on Facebook at my name…Judy Schwartz-Naber.  And I friend people unless they prove to me that they are not worthy of trust.  (Then I might unfriend them.)  Help me prove that healing comes within community.  I look forward to getting to know you.