I believe that overcoming stigma is more than half the battle with any mental illness. I believe by telling my story and by connecting to others with similar stories, we will break down the barriers to understanding mental illness and reduce stigma in the process.
You’re absolutely right! I experience a lot of stigma being a person with chronic anxiety when receiving medical care. It’s very nerve wracking to see a doctor for something that concerns me knowing they might brush my fear off and blame it on my anxiety. That furthers my anxiety as I worry they might be missing something or I’m embarrassed because everybody winds up shaking their head at me. This seems like a minor thing to some people but to me it’s not. I would like to be taken seriously whether you know I have anxiety or not. Thanks for sharing!
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