Prisonist.org: Dealing With The Shame of Depression & Bipolar Illness, By John Tamerin, MD - Guest Blogger Anyone with major depression or bipolar illness has to try to cope with painful and debilitating symptoms, but that does not mean that he or she should, in any way, be embarrassed to have the symptoms of the illness. Indeed, I have observed that one of the most important psychological steps towards recovery is ownership and the ability to gradually be open about one’s condition without shame. I believe it is also important for their spouses and parents to acknowledge this reality. Having facilitated our Greenwich DBSA support group for over a decade I have discovered that this process is best conducted in a safe setting of peers all of whom are coping with the same issues including shame and stigma. In our support group we regularly have talked in depth, with both pain and passion, about our personal struggles with shame and stigma, our fears and feelings of rejection, our fears of never recovering, and our embarrassment about sharing our experiences or diagnosis with other people. Everyone in the support group understands these emotions and has experienced them.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Jul 2014 02:35:55 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015