Stigma
Posted By: MT on 2006-01-04
In Reply to: No, don't take any. I think WAY TOO MANY people are taking these drugs than really ought to. - Life is sometimes hard. No magic cure. nm
You don't even know this person so what makes you qualified to tell him or her not to take any medicine? Would you say the same to a diabetic?
Depression has been stigmatized as somehow a individual failing, a weakness, a personal flaw that makes the individual unable to cope with life. I agree that more people are on the drugs than probably should be, but for those with major depression not helped by exercise, diet, social networks, and other lifestyle changes, medication is NECESSARY. Somebody that simply thinks major depression is simply the blues from the rough knocks in life really has no clue what they're talking about and shouldn't be doling out advice.
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Stigma
glad to see you did your homework and agree you made the right choice.
I agree 100% about the stigma however...
I think that it is just furthered by people who continue to make generalizations about "trailer trash" and such things. Yes, it is there, it it will probably NEVER go away, but I would hope that we would try to make such ideas dissappear.
I know that the comment wasn't directed towards me with my name on it or anything, but if it's not me, then who? My neighbor? My relative? My friend? It is directed at someone and if one makes a generalization, one may as well be attacking every person in that category.
There may be stigmas attached to living in a trailer park, but there are also "stigmas" or prejudices attached to being poor, being African American, Asia, Native American, Christian, Catholic, ect. That does not mean that they are acceptable for 1 second!
I have thought about the fact that it could be hard on my kids, however, I intend to use it as a very good lesson on how hurtful, shaming, and degrading it is to label people and judge them negatively by where they live, the color of their skin, or what they believe. Someone calling me trailer trash might not be equivalent to being called a racial/ethnic slur, however they all start in the same place, closed minds.
I am stepping off my soap box now and thank you all for letting me vent. It was just the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.
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