The 10 Most Stigmatized Mental Disorders
Almost every mental disorder is stigmatized, but some of them are more ridiculed than others. Everyone is responsible to some degree, even those who are struggling with mental illness. It does not matter if it’s depression, anxiety, or OCD — there will be discrimination. The process of stigmatization is not always misplaced, but it can be reasonably compared to racism. You will notice that many of the most popular disorders are stigmatized. The biggest ones are usually depression and anxiety, but others are unreasonably persecuted as well. We will be discussing some of the most well-known disorders and why they are stigmatized. Afterall, these are the 10 most stigmatized mental disorders.
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Stigmatization usually involves a general misunderstanding of the disorder. This can involve ignorance, violence, confusion, excommunication, indifference, and mockery. It’s often why a mental disorder is popularized, and this popularity can lead to more stigmatization. Many of the actions people take are uncalled for, and more education on a subject can certainly make a difference. Unfortunately, many people continue to hide in fear at the notion of acceptance. There are reasons why people are ostracized from their friends and family members, making the sufferer feeling belittled and avoided. In the end, the more you struggle with mental illness, the more you can feel like you are on your own.
The 10 Most Stigmatized Mental Disorders
1. Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder is a personality disorder involving unstable interpersonal relationships, a distorted sense of self, and strong emotional reactions. It is highly stigmatized because of the associations made with volatile mood swings, anger, violence, lying, cheating, and rash behavior. The experiences can be personal or questioned through hearsay and online anecdotes. Unfortunately, most people want little to do with someone who has little control when their feelings are hurt. While this is understandable, the intensity of this irrefutable rebuke and hate is often uncalled for and does little to help with this overemotional disease.
The 10 Most Stigmatized Mental Disorders
2. Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder that is characterized by delusions, paranoia, disorganized thinking, and hallucinations. The reason for its stigmatization typically stems from pop culture and flashy media. Some people stigmatize it less, and others go way overboard to the point of physical altercation. There is often a belief that schizophrenics are aggressive, but this could not be further from the truth. Much of it is dependent upon circumstance; sufferers ironically deal with the violence. While a psychotic episode is scary to some, having the police come by to shoot the sufferer is no way to deal with it. If you happen to be this kind of person, then you suck.
The 10 Most Stigmatized Mental Disorders
3. Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, is a mood disorder involving an episodic lability of mood, i.e., depression and mania. The reasons for its stigmatization involve thoughtless exaggerations, including psychosis and whacky shenanigans during a manic episode. Although this is true to some degree, not everyone reacts the same way or has the same exact symptoms. Oftentimes, the medications only make it worse, making the judgement poorly exacerbated. In spite of this, people will find some way to ignore the pleas for alleviation. It does not matter if it’s the extensive pain from low moods or a bout of recklessness from the high — there will be judgement.
The 10 Most Stigmatized Mental Disorders
4. Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by restrictive eating, a low body weight, and a desire to be skinny. It is often stigmatized for being a first world problem that is taken for granted. While people will tell a sufferer that they are skinny, there is often little else done about it. Maybe they think you are looking for attention or attending some kind of harmless hunger strike. Although some mental disorders like anorexia garner sympathy, others do not. It is a real problem that was often first caused by a contradictory fat stigmatization. In fact, body dysmorphic disorder is not so different, but who can bother with that overindulgent disorder.
The 10 Most Stigmatized Mental Disorders
5. Major Depression
Major depressive disorder is a mood disorder involving a severe, chronic low mood and lack of motivation. The reason for its stigmatization relates to profound laziness and excuse making for the sake of disability. Although some people fake it, the real deal is hardly a game. Some people simply need to be understood, but even this mild affirmation is too hard for most. While the feelings are quite real, the responses to it can seem quite exaggerated. Although telling someone to get over it is thoughtful enough, it usually leaves much to be desired. There’s no reason to go overboard, but a patient can barely do much to quell their suffering.
The 10 Most Stigmatized Mental Disorders
6. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a behavioral disorder characterized by disturbing thoughts/feelings related to a traumatic event. The illness often has symptoms of anxiety and a pressurized fight-or-flight reaction in response to flashbacks. It is often stigmatized because of a sufferer’s propensity to become violent or reactionary. This only happens to be the case because of the misconception that all sufferers are war veterans. Although this violence can be real, it is often ubiquitously oversold and not acted on intentionally. While those of us who have no experience dealing with it are sitting back, mentally diseased people are becoming homeless.
The 10 Most Stigmatized Mental Disorders
7. Dissociative Identity Disorder
Dissociative identity disorder is a mental disorder that involves a person exhibiting at least two distinct personalities. The cause of this disorder is still a mystery, but it has become more understood with time. It is associated with severe childhood trauma, including rape, neglect, and physical abuse. While it is stigmatized, most people would not know where to start. People have claimed — even psychiatrists — that the mental disorder is reinforced through a diagnosis. It is often confused with BPD, and many believe that it is flat-out fake or histrionic. While these may seem like good reasons to undermine this disorder, there is little done to rectify these claims.
The 10 Most Stigmatized Mental Disorders
8. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by intense, long-lasting anxiety that chronically endures. If you are struggling with this kind of anxiety, then you can have worries and fears about everything that will never go away. The reason for its stigmatization involve thinking that the disorder is exaggerated. People suffering from this disorder already have a hard enough time communicating. Unfortunately, others have to make it worse by also thinking that they have anxiety as well. While you are sitting there and feeling as though the world is about to explode, others could not care less. To make it even worse, some other guy is waiting to insult you by thinking that he has it, too.
The 10 Most Stigmatized Mental Disorders
9. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a behavioral disorder involving obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behavior). It often causes severe anxiety, paranoia, and fear, but the worst thing about it relates to an inability to control reactions. The reason for its stigmatization relates to people’s inability to understand what a real disorder feels like. Everyone thinks that they have one to some degree, so why not simply get over it like them. This only goes to show that the sheeple people living with their herd mentality have the zeitgeist in control. Furthermore, living with a mental disorder is tough enough, and people have to make it more difficult with their social stigmas.
The 10 Most Stigmatized Mental Disorders
10. Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder is a personality disorder that is characterized by grandiose self-importance, a need for admiration, and low empathy. It is often associated with anger, arrogance, and intense bouts of rage. The primary reason for its stigmatization relate to the workplace and ex-boyfriends. Anyone you do not like can become a narcissist, thus, it worsens the problem. While their is a level of self-aggrandizement, the negative feelings are paramount. People like to offer little in the way of change, but they love to judge the most. There are reason to infer through stigmatization, but we often take it too far. Although every disorder is on the far side of a spectrum, the lines draw the difference.