by Catie

Created on: December 22, 2008

Depression, what a word. It hints at so many things. Weakness. Craziness. Laziness. The social stigma associated with this word can devastate life's and families. I know! I suffer from Severe Clinical Depression.

When finally diagnosed at age 50 after suffering for years, I was confused, frightened and worried about the repercussions that this would have on my career, my life and my family. After all, I had a mental illness. No one wants to admit they are mentally ill.

I was lucky enough to have been placed in a superior mental health facility with incredible counselors who were able to help me deal with my new diagnosis. Through counseling, medication and therapy I got to the point where I was able to let go of the stigma I placed on myself for having a mental illness. That, however, is just the tip of the iceberg.

The stigma that is attached to this disorder by society can be extremely cruel. While in hospital, the counselors held a seminar on how, when, what and even if to tell people about myself and my disorder. Of all the options offered to me I selected "The Truth".

Once I understood that this disorder is not a weakness but a chemical imbalance, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders and adopted an attitude, that to this day, helps me handle my self imposed stigma of having clinical depression.

If anyone inquires, I simply explain that I have a hereditary chemical imbalance in my brain that limits my ability to interact with crowds, handle noise, be around people or work. I am not ashamed of my illness, because that is exactly what it is. The social stigma of mental illness, in my opinion, will never go away. The only way to overcome this is within ourselves.

I decided a long time ago that I was not going to lie, hide or be ashamed my illness. I had no control over this, I inherited it from my grandfather. If I had come down with cancer or diabetes no one would think me weak or crazy. No one would keep their children from getting near me for fear I might harm them. So why should I put that kind of self imposed stress and pressure on myself?

Therefore, after all issues were dealt with, medications adjusted and therapy deemed useful, I was released from hospital and went out into the world to live the best life I could and not give one minute thought about what kind of stigma society was going to place on me.

Because when it is all said and done, I am the only one whose opinion of me really matters. I have to live in my skin and deal with myself and my issues. As long as I can do that in a healthy manner, I have overcome the "STIGMA" of clinical depression.

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