The Stigma of Mental Illness
"I'm dying of Depression." She told her boss one afternoon. He looked at her as if she grew horns and wings. The rumors that flew around the coffee maker that day were priceless. Her husband was leaving her, the kids were on drugs, the car was being repossessed as she sat at her desk. That poor tortured woman. She was doing this to herself.
"I'm dying of Cancer." She told her boss one afternoon. He looked at her as if he were going to cry. He gave her the rest of the afternoon off. Hell, the rest of the week off. The suggestions flew around the coffeemaker that day. They were arranging a bake sale to help with the medical bills. He ordered a bouquet of flowers. She offered to clean the house and make dinner. They offered to drive her to chemotherapy appointments. They were all planning to do the Breast Cancer Walk next month. They were willing to do whatever it took to help that poor tortured woman. She had no choice in the matter.
Pain is invisible. Emotional or physical. It is also subjective.
But too many people believe that depression can be cured by a walk in the park or a haircut with a color job.
Depression can kill and is just as deadly as the antibodies that are attacking me at this very moment.
You can see cancer on PET scans. You can attack it. Kill it. Rid your body of it in some cases.
But you can't see depression on an X-ray. It's an invisible monster that consumes your every thought.
People with mental illnesses need just as much support as people with cancer. Both take too many lives much too soon.
"I'm dying of Cancer." She told her boss one afternoon. He looked at her as if he were going to cry. He gave her the rest of the afternoon off. Hell, the rest of the week off. The suggestions flew around the coffeemaker that day. They were arranging a bake sale to help with the medical bills. He ordered a bouquet of flowers. She offered to clean the house and make dinner. They offered to drive her to chemotherapy appointments. They were all planning to do the Breast Cancer Walk next month. They were willing to do whatever it took to help that poor tortured woman. She had no choice in the matter.
Pain is invisible. Emotional or physical. It is also subjective.
But too many people believe that depression can be cured by a walk in the park or a haircut with a color job.
Depression can kill and is just as deadly as the antibodies that are attacking me at this very moment.
You can see cancer on PET scans. You can attack it. Kill it. Rid your body of it in some cases.
But you can't see depression on an X-ray. It's an invisible monster that consumes your every thought.
People with mental illnesses need just as much support as people with cancer. Both take too many lives much too soon.
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