I have to admit that when I was first diagnosed with a mental illness (schizoaffective disorder) I was devastated – and ashamed.
A few months ago I was preparing to go to a glass sculpture class and I asked my NAMI support group what to say if someone asked what I do. I got a variety of answers – none of which indicated that I have a mental illness.
I brought this issue up again at a support group that was held at the NAMI National convention in Miami this June. There was some feeling that the stigma that NAMI is dedicated to getting rid of, may in part be self inflicted.
It is difficult to tell someone you hardly know that you have a mental illness, and are on disability. Just yesterday, someone at Curves asked me what I did, and I said I made glass beads. I feel strongly that my health is personal and doesn’t need to be discussed with everybody I meet. But on the other hand, I do want to be open about it, and not feel ashamed about it.
