Self Stigma

Ive definately experienced self stigma. Ive admittedly been through a lot. Although my second hospitalization was a lot more joyful than my first Both were caracherized by a lack of compassion from more senior mental health staff and having to come to terms with losing everything you have worked so hard in life to build up. Ive also had to come to terms with the perceived loss of future as well. I may never have a work place pension, I may never own my own home and I may never get to have a partner. Although none of these are certain it is difficult not to contemplate the loss of them. I think the self stigmatization process began for me when I first got admitted to hospital. Theres nothing like a stay in hospital for your mental health to make you feel different from other people. Self stigmatisation is meant to start when we take on the predudices of society around us and when I stayed in hospital for the first time I became acutely aware of the overt and hidden prejudices that are expressed by the culture and society around me. Its very easy to begin thinking there is something wrong with you. Hospital is unfortunately a hot bed of predudice like this because of its very nature, it is a medical facility, you are being observed to find out if you are 'normal' enough to be allowed to rejoin 'normal society. it all has an effect on you and slowly it eats into your sense of self. MY first observation of the mental health system and self stigmatization is that we need to begin to explore the current model of hospital for those having a mental health experience. I am an advocate of a safe place for those who are experiencing a mental health condition however there is something very wrong with how we medicalise mental health and for me that is the root of self stigmatisation.