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CONFIDENTIALITY
Your Privacy
THE NEGATIVE LABEL OF EMOTIONAL ILLNESS
Society has attached an undeniable stigma to so-called emotional or mental illness. The public is afraid of conditions that are not concrete and physical and are less easily understood. Emotional or mental difficulties seem more "hidden" and mysterious. The body is tangible, and we feel we have more control over it. Setting a broken leg, having your appendix removed, even open-heart surgery—they are not difficult for the public to grasp.
However, depression, anxiety, intolerance to stress, disorientation, unsettling fears, unusual behavior—these are much less readily understood by nonspecialists. There is a tendency for many people to judge rather harshly what they do not comprehend. When many individuals who are ignorant of psychology hear of someone in emotional distress, the inclination is often to condemn. Condemnation is frequently an expression of fear—fear of what is not understood.
During the last two to three decades, society has gradually become more psychologically aware and more intelligent about nonphysical problems. And yet, the stigma of emotional or mental illness has still not been erased. It will take time.
As a result, many people who are in serious emotional distress hesitate to go to a therapist. They are afraid of the negative label that others may apply to them, if information about them ever "got out."
Sometimes this is a justifiable worry. Some employers are bigoted and may discriminate against employees with known emotional problems (even though this is blatantly illegal). And some families, in which there is little psychological understanding and much fear, may withdraw from a family member who lets it be known that he or she is in emotional distress.
On the other hand, most people like to feel that they have a certain degree of compassion and openness—even those who are judgmental! If you are willing to face ignorant attitudes head-on, unflinchingly (and this can take a great deal of courage), you will frequently gain the respect of others through your honesty. They will perceive your unwillingness to judge yourself negatively and may even come to admire the strength and determination you have to improve your life.