Anti Stigmatization

Social Isolation and Mental Illness

May 15, 2006 | By Elise Stobbe | Share, Save, and Bookmark | 8 Comments

Think about what it would be like to spend most of your time alone because being around other people is just too difficult. You feel that others are judging you for your mental illness, and so you are scared to face the world. You withdraw to avoid this stigmatization. This social withdrawal is emotionally very costly. But this is a two-way street — the mentally ill withdraw from society–society withdraws from them.

An Australian survey reported that two-thirds of people affected by a mental illness feel lonely “often” or “all of the time”. The research says in contrast, just 10 per cent of the general population reported feelings of loneliness. (1)

Social relationships are important for anyone in maintaining health, but for the mentally ill it is especially important. People with mental illness value contact with family. But families may be unwilling to interact with their mentally ill family member. Social isolation is also sometimes due to the unwillingness of others to befriend the mentally ill. The public may avoid them altogether. The stigma associated with mental illness creates huge barriers to socialization.

People with severe mental illness are probably the most isolated social group of all. They are judged, disrespected and made into pariahs. They fear rejection from others, who may be afraid of the mentally ill, so the mentally ill person may feel overwhelmed by the thought of attempting to form new friendships. Just avoiding any contact is often the choice. Or, they may make a great effort to conceal their condition from others, which results in additional stress from worrying about their true condition being discovered.

It is sometimes the case that the severely mentally ill person becomes homeless. This in itself is isolating, and they then must suffer the double stigmatization of being homeless as well as mentally ill.

Another reason the person with mental illness may experience social isolation is the nature of their mental illness. Social phobias like agoraphobia, or severe anxiety or depression often cause the suffering person to be afraid to venture out into society.

When anyone, mentally ill or not, does not have enough social contact, it affects them mentally and even physically. Loneliness creates stress, taking a toll on health. Other things affected can be the ability to learn and memory function. High blood pressure is also seen. It can be the trigger of depression and alcoholism. (2) Imagine the consequences, then, if you are already depressed or have other mental illnesses? Loneliness can make you worse. Loneliness and loss of self-worth lead many mentally ill to believe that they are useless, and so they live with a sense of hopelessness and low self-esteem.

Social isolation is both a cause and an effect of mental distress. When the person isolates more, they face more mental distress. With more mental distress, they want to isolate. This vicious cycle relegates many people with severe mental illness to a life of social segregation and isolation.

Many people with severe psychiatric disabilities say that the stigma associated with their illness is as distressing as the symptoms themselves. This stigmatization not only prevents them from interacting with others, but may prevent them from seeking treatment, which in turn exposes them to a greater risk of suicide.

Too often the public does not understand the challenges of the mentally ill and doesn’t want to try. It is therefore necessary to confront biased social attitudes in order to reduce the discrimination and stigma of people who are living with mental illness.

References

1. Mentally Ill ‘neglected by communities’. (05/08/2002). Yahoo. AU.

2. Psychology Today. The Dangers of Loneliness. Morano, Hara Estroff. (Aug. 21, 2033).

8 Comments

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Anonymous
May 15, 2006 | Permalink

This is a very true posting. However, I would like to see more on the solutions that have been recommended and/or successful.

How do we create more understanding in the general population?

Elise Stobbe
May 16, 2006 | Permalink

How to create more understanding in the general population is a large topic, and will be addressed in future articles. Thanks for the comment!

susan
July 22, 2006 | Permalink

Even simple tasks like grocery shopping can be difficult if you have agoraphobia, anxiety and depression. Sometimes I feel like all eyes are watching me. After my diagnosis over 10 years ago some family members still don’t understand.

just me
March 12, 2007 | Permalink

its amazing how many people do not understand the topic of mental illness this is when i realized the importance of understanding. Without people especially close friends and family unable to understand how you feel that is the hardest!

terri
March 12, 2007 | Permalink

being diagnosed with depression at only 16 was very hard i was showing a lot of signs of mental illness it was like hell on earth and now im through it all it took a long time but it’s what i call a “miracle.” I now have so much insight and understanding in the behaviour of others this gives me strength. I never realise how many people have so little confidence i think this can lead to mental illness/depressin etc. But somehow, i think its in our genes in the way we thinh and the way we think influences our actions and the way we live.

Hearin' voices
March 12, 2007 | Permalink

i totally agree with Susan here in saying that you think all eyes are on you. But the sad thing is..people think you are too self-centred, self-absorbed. This does not help the illness it makes the person far worse. We really need to do something as a nation to increase awareness of mental illness…soon!!!!!

Dona Wheeler
November 24, 2008 | Permalink

Isolation, diet, molestion,poor diet, negative thoughts which come from so many sources, childhood diets and vaccines are responsible for the increased diagnois of mental illness. Now factor in hormones, and shifts that take place all your life, and then hooking up with a shrink, who is comped for each prescriptive medicine he writes, who goes by a lttle book called a DSM, so he can bill, and be paid, which is full of weirdness…. Look at the big picture.

What is more important here hooking you on the thought that these mind altering drugs are going to fix you, heal or cure you, is never heard. I managed beginning in 04 to look at all this and went through many emotions, even seeing a formeer shrink in 06 who told me I was never bipolar. I lost 14 years and credibility, cause if a shrink says you’re crazy, you are right? My children ex, my home, my Mom, , my civil rights, untiold monies, my self worth was lost to me, as my family chose isolation. No one should go through what I did, yet it happens. I lost that trusting depenednt persona, and healed using natural suppliments, I am uniquely different, a superhyersensative person, which I have been all my life, and
guard my freedom, and happiness. When I became open to the positive aspects beauty life and love found me. And now I council others, through CCHR.

We are all worthy, and accepting that you are less than, is not right. Who descides what defines normal?

DAVID IS GONNA BE FREE
December 19, 2008 | Permalink

THIS ARTICLE IS JUST SO TRUE AND SO VERY HELPFUL. I HAVE SCHIZOPHRENIA AND
MAJOR DEPRESSION. IT IS OFTEN JAMMED UP AS BEING CALLED SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISORDER. HOWEVER I SEE THEM AS TWO RELATED BUT SEPARATE DISORDERS.

THIS IS BECAUSE MY SCHIZOPHRENIA STARTED AS A SMALL CHILD OF 6 YRS OLD.
I WOULD OFTEN SEE DISTURBING OPEN VIVID HALLUCINATIONS AND HEARD VOICES THAT CONTROLLED ME AND THAT CONSTANTLY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO KILL ME.

IT WAS NOT UNTIL IN MY LATE TEENS THAT I DEVELOPED MAJOR DEPRESSION. IT’S ENTRANCE
IN MY LIFE PRESENTED WITH ME ATTEMPTING SUICIDE AT 19 YEARS OLD. I TOOK A HANDFUL OF PILLS PROBABLY ASPRIN AND DRANK HALF A BOTTLE OF WINE AND WOKE UP. I ONLY TOLD ONE PERSON WHO I SWORE TO SILENCE AND I SOUGHT NO PROFESSIONAL HELP. SEVERAL YEARS
LATER A SECOND SUICIDE ATTEMPT LANDED ME A STRETCH IN THE STATE MENTAL HOSPITAL.

I WAS LOCKED IN A PADDED ROOM FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND NIGHTS - ALONE AND AFRAID.
I WAS TALKED TO BY THE NURSES AND STAFF AS IF I WERE A RAGING LUNATIC. I WAS NOT CRAZY I WAS JUST DEEPLY DEPRESSED AND FELT EXTREMELY SAD. THERE WERE OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE THAT I SAW THERE WHO WERE SUFFERING JUST LIKE ME. I WEPT FOR THEM EVEN THOUGH I NEEDED HELP MYSELF.

I HAVE SINCE BEEN TREATED COUNTLESS TIMES IN EMERGENCY ROOMS FOR COUNSELING, REFERRALS, AND PRESCRIBED MANY DIFFERENT MEDICATIONS BOTH FOR DEPRESSION AND SCHIZOPHRENIA OVER THE YEARS. MOST OF THIS HAS BEEN DONE VERY QUIETLY WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY. I CHOSE TO KEEP QUIET BECAUSE I HAD OFTEN HEARD FRIENDS MAKE AWFUL COMMENTS ABOUT THE MENTALLY ILL. IT MAKES ME FEEL SAD BECAUSE OF THEIR IGNORANCE AND HOW I WOULD MOST LIKELY BE THE NEXT TARGET OF THIS ABUSE FROM THE HANDS AND MOUTHS OF PEOPLE I HAVE LOVED FOR MOST OF MY LIFE.

MY LATEST MENTAL HEALTH RELAPSE HAS LASTED FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. IT CAUSED ME TO GO INTO A PROFOUND SOCIAL WITHDRAWAL AND PARANOIA. I STOPPED COMMUNICATING WITH
THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE I KNEW AND WERE VERY CLOSE WITH FOR MOST OF THIS TIME.
I AM CURRENTLY EXITING FROM IT WITH THE HELP OF COUNSELING - NO MEDS THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN PRESCRIBED. TO NOT RESTART MEDS IS JUST MY CHOICE AT THIS TIME.
I AM OPEN TO IT IF I CANNOT RECOVER BETTER IN MY OWN WAY AND IN MY OWN TIME AS I FEEL COMFORTABLE IN DOING SO. I DO NOT ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO FOLLOW ME ON THIS DECISION.
EACH INDIVIDUAL MOST CONSIDER THAT AND CHOOSE WHAT WILL BE IN THEIR BEST INTEREST.

NOW THAT I AM BEGINNING TO FEEL BETTER I FIND MYSELF ASHAMED OF THE WAY I DISAPPEARED FROM FRIENDS AND I REALIZE THAT THEY TOO ARE FEELING VERY BADLY NOT KNOWING WHY I SUDDENLY STOPPED HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEM.

IT IS AFTER MUCH DELIBERATION I HAVE MADE A POWERFUL DECISION THAT MAY AFFECT THE REST OF MY LIFE. AFTER SPEAKING WITH MY THERAPIST ABOUT DROPPING OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH TO MANY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES FOR ALL THIS TIME I HAVE DECIDED TO COME OUT. IT WILL BE IN A WAY THAT I FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE AND AT THE SAME TIME PROVIDE SOME ANSWERS AS TO WHY I LEFT THEM ALONE SUDDENLY WITH NO WORD AND NO WARNING.

I HAVE ELECTED TO EDIT MY REVELATION FOR NOW AS TO NOT OVERWHELM THEM AND INTRODUCE DEPRESSION AS MY DISABILITY. SOME OF YOU MAY NOT AGREE AND FEEL I SHOULD
COME OUT BLAZING WITH BOTH BARRELS - HOWEVER IT IS AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE FOR EACH ONE AND YOU SHOULD, I FEEL, IN WISDOM NEVER PUT OUT MORE THAN YOU CAN TAKE BACK NOR SHOULD YOU GIVE OTHERS MORE THAN WHAT THEY ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE.

IN TIME I WILL SHARE MORE I DO BELIEVE BUT THIS IS MY STARTING POINT AND MY CHRISTMAS GIFT TO MYSELF. I CHOOSE “THE FREEDOM” TO STOP HIDING AND TRYING TO EXPLAIN OR LET OTHERS SPECULATE - THOSE CLOSEST TO ME WHO DO NOT KNOW MY DIAGNOSIS OF WHOM I
AM ENCLOSING THIS SPECIAL “LOVE NOTE” IN THEIR CHRISTMAS CARDS - AS TO WHY I SOMETIMES IN THEIR OPINION SEEM “STRANGE” TO THEM AT TIMES.

I WOULD ADVISE ANYONE PLANNING TO DO THIS TO FIRST TALK TO YOUR THERAPIST, FRIENDS
WHO SUPPORT YOU OR ARE ALSO DEALING WITH THIS VERY SPECIAL CHALLENGE TO GET SUPPORT AND TO GET A GAME PLAN. IN THE END YOU ARE DOING THIS FOR YOURSELF AND IF THEY REALLY LOVE YOU - YOU ARE DOING THIS FOR THOSE WHO NEED TO KNOW SO THEY CAN KNOW HOW TO BETTER SUPPORT AND RELATE TO YOU. AS FRIENDS AND FAMILY GOING THROUGH ANY CHALLENGE; BANKRUPTCY, DIVORCE, DIABETES, HYPERTENSION, ETC.
WE ALL NEED EACH OTHER AND NEED TO KNOW HOW TO BEST DO SO. AFTER ALL WE
ARE ONLY HUMAN.

I HOPE THIS POST WILL HELP SOMEONE OUT THERE IN SOME WAY…PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE AND LET ME KNOW IF IT HAS. I WILL IN TURN - AS LONG AS THIS POST IS UP - “CHECK IN”
AND LET YOU KNOW HOW THIS YEARS HOLIDAY EVENTS AND REVELATIONS WENT FOR ME.
ALSO IF ANY ONE IS AWARE OF ANY GREAT CHAT SITES OR ONLINE SUPPORT GROUPS FOR
SCHIZOPHRENIA AND/OR DEPRESSION PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

THANKS,
DAVID