Stigmas

     A stigma is like a stain on your shirt that just won't wash out. In spite of that indelible blot, it's the only shirt you own so you still have to wear it every day,

    One of the worst stigmas is having been treated by a psychiatrist or mental health facility. It may have been something as simple as mild anxiety or depression easily treated with weak medications or something more serious. But it doesn't matter; a file folder has been created for you whose contents will follow you the rest of your life. Everything that happens in your life is interpreted in light of that files theme. Have an auto accident and a note will be made that you have an attention disorder. Have an argument with someone, a note says you have an aggression problem.

     Those files follow you everywhere. Apply for a job, you won't get it. Apply for credit, you definitely won't get it. Apply for medical help, sorry our insurance won't cover mental help. I remember 1972 when Thomas Eagleton was picked to run for Vice President. He'd been treated with electroshock which was regarded as a magic cure for whatever ails you back then. He was released and had no more symptoms. But he was forced to drop out. I thought then it was ironic that he was the only proven sane person available. The race was won by Nixon and Agnew who both had to resign because they were crooked and got caught.

     It's heartening to see even our president Obama has said illness could be either physical or mental and should be treated as such and entitled to treatment and respect as any other condition of human life.