mental-illness

Stigma
By Veronica Emilia Nuzzolo,  M.Ed., Ph.D.

I woke up this morning,, really just not feeling myself,, it was a struggle to get out of bed,, I physically hurt,  I forced myself up and out, because I had to, I have to go to work, I cannot afford to be out sick,,

I’m a bit ill, a little under the weather,,  I will be fine,,,  oh, how nice everyone in the office is,, so very concerned,, do you feel o.k., can I do anything for you,, would you like a nice hot cup of tea,, feel better soon,, oh aren’t you so kind,, I will be fine,, thank you,,,

Minimal disclosure as to what a bit under the weather means allows for empathy, having a bout of socially acceptable “a bit under the weather” is not earth shattering news, no one is running for cover,, no one needs to know  that my a bit under the weather is mental illness.  Why,, well,, if they knew,, they would run for cover, they would cluster together and formulate a contingency plan to exit the premise and find a “safe location.”  They do not want to “catch it!”  Ha,ha,ha,,  thank you for your concern, but,, I am not contagious,,,,,,

I love irony,, when you were empathetic  to my being a bit under the weather,, with what you thought was my socially acceptable illness,  I was probably spewing those little pesky airborne pathogens,, contaminating the empathetic populace…….so sorry I gave you the common cold, flu, or I am so, so, so, sorry, mayhap tuberculosis…. or COVID-19!!!!

The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that mental illness is a condition that impacts a person’s thinking, feeling or mood and may affect his or her ability to relate to others and function on a daily basis. Each individual will have different experiences, even those with the same diagnosis.  1 in 5 adults experiences a mental health condition every year.

That 1 in 5 could be you…..mental illness does not discriminate and neither should you……… STOP THE STIGMA!

How to cite this article:
Nuzzolo, V. E., (2016).  Stigma. My Apologies, I Am a Bit Under the Weather Today.  Retrieved from, https://eduction-is-power.com/2016/02/13/my-apologies-i-am-a-bit-under-the-weather-today/