Yes, Shame has an offspring. I believe it is called secrecy. People hide their feelings, their illnesses and their family secrets because they feel ashamed. Owning diseases like mental illness and dementia are difficult, as people feel ashamed to have them, and become secretive about them. Why is it shameful to own up to mental illness … Continue reading »
Tagged with mental illness …
Wrapped in a cocoon
Yesterday when we were leaving the conference venue, I felt overwhelmed with sadness about departing, to the point of tears running down my cheeks. We walked through the long hallways holding onto each other, and I wondered why I was feeling so sad. Then I realised why; it was because we had been wrapped in … Continue reading »
A reason to die…
His life had ended, by his own hand. Perhaps this was the peace they were all searching for? The stigma of living with mental illness seemed too much of a burden for him to handle, a great deal too hard to own. Of course no one could comprehend why he had taken his own life, … Continue reading »
Myths
Like dementia, mental illness is also untrendy, redolent with stigma and inner shame, but in most cases is not terminal. I was sitting in a taxi travelling to a hotel in Canberra yesterday and had two interesting conversations. Firstly, the driver recognised me from my story in The Big Issue! Then, after discussing the high-profile … Continue reading »
