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Anxiety disorders
Anxiety disorders are the most commonly diagnosed mental illness. They include panic disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder and phobias. Nearly three out of four people with an anxiety disorder experience the first episode by age 21.
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Depression
Depression is an illness that affects one’s thoughts, feelings, behavior, physical health, activity, and sleep patterns.
Liz's Story Learn More about DepressionLiz's Story
What kind of stigma did you experience/observe?
People who don't know what to say tend to distance themselves, not because they don't love you, but because they feel helpless to do anything to make you feel better.
Stigma story
I’ve had about 4 major depressive episodes over the past 25 years. My first one was seemingly out of the blue and no one knew what was wrong with me. When I was finally diagnosed and given treatment I recovered and rediscovered myself. But I did have one very close friend totally drop out of my life.
We had been friends for 2-3 years and she just couldn’t understand or deal with the obsessive and anxious component of my illness. Now when I am having an episode, I am filled with the fear that another of my friends will stop loving me because of this one person’s inability to deal with the illness. This is my struggle, to quell the fears. I do this by trying not to share too much about myself and this hurts me. I have lost my ability to trust new people and am working very hard to overcome this because I realize not everyone is that one person. There may be others but that doesn’t mean I am not worthy of love and acceptance.
What could someone have said/done to make it ok?
All I really want is for people to continue their relationship with me as though I am healthy. I don't need to be treated as though I am fragile. I need to know they still love me and can handle the tough times. Because if they treat me like the disease, they are not seeing the me who is still there under the depression. Call me, laugh with me, talk about your life. And listen to mine. It will get better and we'll be ok.
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Eating disorders
The three main types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa (severely restricting food), bulimia nervosa (binging and purging), and binge-eating disorder.
Ashley's Story Learn More about Eating DisordersAshley's Story
What kind of stigma did you experience/observe?
When I tell people I am in recovery from an eating disorder, they give me a puzzled look like I must be crazy. I have had many people judge me and act like I did not go through a real struggle that almost ended my life.
Stigma story
I read the page over and over again, but my mind could not focus on the words. In fact, it could not focus on anything. I could not bring myself to give my mind and body what they needed – food. Somehow food had turned into my enemy and my fear. I cannot say how, why, or exactly when, but an eating disorder had taken over my life and I needed help.
Due to so little awareness as well as my own fear and shame, I never thought I had a problem. Like so many, I thought an eating disorder meant consuming no food at all and one simply had to eat something in order to overcome it. In a culture that idolizes and praises thinness, I thought restricting my food intake was a positive thing. I never thought losing too much weight would lead to a state of despair and sickness. I suffered for years, far too long, before I finally realized I was sick and asked for help. Failing to nourish my body and mind had taken its toll. Physically, I was weak, tired, and sick all of the time. Mentally, depression and hopelessness had taken over. By the time I finally received help, I was so underweight I had to be hospitalized in an inpatient eating disorder treatment facility, Park Nicollet Melrose Center. From the starting point of treatment it took years of hard work to recover from my eating disorder, but I am proud to say that I did and my life completely changed for the better. Instead of being consumed by thoughts of food, fat, and exercise, I can now focus on daily life and the things I love.
The only way I was able to truly overcome my eating disorder was through going to Park Nicollet Melrose Center for intensive treatment and therapy. Without the help of Melrose I would most likely be dead. Melrose got me the help I needed right away. Through doing inpatient treatment, my health and well-being was monitored 24/7 which is what I needed at the time. I was too sick to function and get healthy on my own. I needed people to support me and tell me what to eat in order to get better. My body and mind no longer knew what I needed because I had deprived my body for so long. Melrose also recognized eating disorders are not just about food but require a holistic approach where one sees a therapist, dietician, doctor, and psychiatrist and attends a variety of therapy groups. Furthermore, Melrose’s staff truly wants to help and I saw this first hand. I felt cared for and I knew the staff wanted to see me be able to truly live my life.
Living life means not being controlled by an eating disorder, and not thinking about food, calories, body image, etc. all day, every day. It means being free to hang out with friends, go out to eat, do normal activities, and be joyful. Melrose helped me to see this. When I first entered treatment I never knew what life was like without an eating disorder. Melrose helped me reach a healthy weight and this in turn helped my brain and thoughts to function clearly. Now I am so much happier with life and it has nothing to do with my weight, food or controlling my body. Life isn’t perfect, but it sure is a whole lot better without being in the grips of an eating disorder, and I owe that to Melrose.
Today I volunteer at Melrose so I can encourage those who suffer from eating disorders and give them hope. I have spoken in the community and in recovery groups at Melrose about eating disorders and my personal story. I tell others that there is hope. I want people to know that life without an eating disorder does exist and is so much better. When I was struggling, I never met someone who was on the other side of an eating disorder, so I often thought recovery was impossible. However, I now know it is not and I want others to know as well. I am also very passionate about making the public aware of eating disorders. People often do not know that it is possible to get help and heal from an eating disorder. There are many stereotypes and endless stigma surrounding this mental illness, but there is hope and healing and this needs to be shared.
What could someone have said/done to make it ok?
When I was struggling and not nourishing myself, people were too afraid to say anything. They did not want to offend me. I wish someone would have told me it was okay to ask for help if I thought I had a problem. I also wish I would have been given knowledge about eating disorders. Take the risk. If you think your friend or family member might be struggling with an eating disorder approach them about it. They will probably get mad at you, but it is about saving their life. The NEDA website and Park Nicollet Melrose Center offer good advice on how to approach someone. The need for help and treatment of eating disorders is very real and most people do not realize this.
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Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depression, includes episodes of a very high mood known as mania alternating with episodes of depression.
Heidi's Story Learn More about Bipolar DisorderHeidi's Story
What kind of stigma did you experience/observe?
I often encounter stigma in the workplace through insensitive comments - someone must be bipolar because they are moody; off- handed comments about a news story and being schizophrenic. I also hear comments about homeless people with no understanding that many live with mental illnesses that contribute to losing housing.
Stigma Story
With all those great things in my life, you may ask...What more could a girl ask for? Yet some days, a girl can beg for peace of mind and wish to be saved from a day of total despair and depression.
I grew up in a family with my two sisters and my brother. I loved playing softball and basketball and hanging out with the neighbor kids. When I was 9, my Grandma came to live with us. My Grandma was my comfort – my safety blanket. I just think my parents had a lot going on that they needed to figure out, so Grandma took care of us.
When I was 14, my Grandma died. She had been the glue keeping our family together; she made our home feel safe and secure. Suddenly, she was gone! A year later, my dad left us. It was out of the blue. And that is when I feel that my symptoms of mental illness really started for me.
In addition to all of the changes at home, I had also changed schools. High school was pretty much one big episode of depression. I didn’t even know I was depressed. I just figured I was a kid who’d experienced some big life changes that caused me to think about freeing myself. I wanted to hurt myself, to commit suicide, to be out of the pain I was feeling. I felt so lost...I just wanted out.
After graduation, I went to technical school and graduated with a degree in Computer and Voice Networking. That led to moving away from the Twin Cities for some great work opportunities and building new relationships. Those relationships eventually led to break-ups, and more depression. Sometimes my behavior was truly out of control.
See, here’s the thing...I know the state of depression really well. But I still don’t always recognize when I am in a manic state – that’s because mania, at the beginning, seems like so much fun! Why would I want to take my medication and stay stable when I can run around so high that I’m sure I will be the next President of the United States. But then there are the consequences: shopping out of control, buying a motorcycle without knowing how to drive it, drinking way too much, eating way too much, and not using enough discretion before delving into relationships.
But, a good thing came out of those bad relationships – I finally realized I needed help and called the Employee Assistance Program at work. The EAP referred me to a psychiatrist. I was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder and put on medications. I didn’t know anything about mental illness or medications and I didn’t think I really needed them. I thought I’d be “cured” within 6 months.
3 months went by and my depression got worse. I thought about overdosing on medication while no one was around. My family and friends didn’t know about the racing thoughts, the nightmares, the almost constant thoughts of suicide – thoughts I couldn’t stop even with meds and therapy. I didn’t really talk about it. I didn’t think my family would understand and I wasn’t sure they would believe it. I thought I was the only one with these feelings. And, I was embarrassed.
In 2005, I decided to move back to MN. I got a good job in my field as a Manager of Network Operations. But, I was still really depressed and thinking about suicide a lot. I didn’t realize that my meds weren’t working right and I ended up being taken to the hospital by ambulance. Eventually, I found help again and I also found a Community Support Program run by Guild Incorporated. Everyone that works there is extremely supportive, loving and caring. I’m not judged there.
Today, I work in my desired field of work and I’m also working to break the stigma of mental illness. I speak for NAMI locally and at their national conference in June of this year. I’m no longer quiet about my illness.
What could someone have said/done to make it ok?
Education is important. Take the time to learn what people with mental illnesses go through each day. If you have a family member or friend and hear comments, speak up for your loved one. Hearing someone speak up for me or not feel ashamed is extremely validating and loving.
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Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders in children and adolescents, but it also affects about 4 percent of adults. It is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
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Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness where a person experiences hallucinations and delusions, emotional flatness and trouble with thinking. It affects about one percent of the population.
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can occur after someone experiences a traumatic event that caused intense fear, helplessness, or horror. PTSD can result from personally experienced traumas (e.g., rape, war, natural disasters, abuse, serious accidents, and captivity) or from the witnessing or learning of a violent or tragic event.
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