BDD Stigma

Why is there so much stigma surrounding BDD and other mental illnesses?
If it's such a common thing to have a mental illness in today's society, why are we afraid to talk about it and get help? It seems that the reason for stigma is due to the fact that many people have preconceived notions about what mental illness is and what it means.
"Crazy" "Lunatic" "Unstable" "Deranged" "Violent" and other harsh terms like this tend to be initial reactions when the term "Mental Illness" comes to mind.
The big issue is, these notions can be greatly distorted due to influences like contemporary media.

Commonly held misconceptions and stereotypes of people with mental illness (including BDD) include:

• They are all potentially violent and dangerous.
• They have nothing positive to contribute.
• It is the person's own fault that they have a mental illness. 
• They cannot be responsible for everyday chores, duties and functioning.
• They aren't as intelligent as people without mental illness.

Contrary to popular belief, plenty people with diagnosed mental illnesses like BDD and others are fully capable of living "normal" healthy lives. Many are fully functioning members of today's society. They are your friends, sisters, fathers, cashiers, receptionists, colleagues, teachers and strangers on the street. BDD can occur in any race, culture, city or town. Male or female. BDD and other mental illnesses can happen anywhere.
Would you be able to recognize a mental illness in someone you sit next to on a bus? Probably not.

Statistics show that 1 in 5 Canadians will experience some form of mental health issue in their lifetime.
Once someone is labeled with a "mental illness" there is so much branding and shame surrounding those words that many people are afraid to get the proper help they so desperately need. The negative reaction to mental illness can lead to intense discrimination. For people with mental illness, stigma can be a large barrier to living a "normal life". Finding a place to live, a job, friends or relationships can become extremely difficult with mental illness stigmatization. This fear of talking about mental issues can result in many years of suffering, sadness and sadly even suicide if left untreated.

If you or someone you know has a mental illness like BDD or others PLEASE get help. Talk to your doctor. Seek out therapy, counselling or just talk to a friend.

Click on any of these links for more resources on places to find Health, Help and Hope...