tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post2541880721530767958..comments2024-03-28T15:05:10.372-05:00Comments on Every goddamn day: 03/29/24: Fighting the stigma of mental illnessNeil Steinberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-31678127234414919962015-09-21T15:06:27.052-05:002015-09-21T15:06:27.052-05:00I guess my problem is that putting a name on the a...I guess my problem is that putting a name on the addiction or mental condition that still allows one to function in society adds to the stigma problem if it is a name that in the popular mind equates to "crazy." Perhaps I'm asking more than the English language is capable of. Or am addicted to odd qualms. Where can I seek treatment?.<br /><br />I share your dismay at what emerges from the mouths of some benighted legislators Coey, but if there are problems that can be addressed through governmental action the only hope is that the intelligent ones, through a legislative process involving expert fact finding propose and vote on specific programs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-66556332881635685832015-09-21T14:03:47.467-05:002015-09-21T14:03:47.467-05:00Also, I for one don't want legislators making ...Also, I for one don't want legislators making these distinctions. Too many of them have shown their grasp on scientific matters to be tenuous, at best.<br />Coeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06130250489695215525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-15348842369375381152015-09-21T13:40:25.827-05:002015-09-21T13:40:25.827-05:00It's an odd qualm, Tom. I could say, "You...It's an odd qualm, Tom. I could say, "You know, 'heart disease' is such a nebulous term. It could mean from the slightest murmur to a full-blown heart attack...." There are all sorts of more specific terms, but having an umbrella phrase helps because all share common problems, such as stigma. It seems splitting hairs.Neil Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-77340086910926775402015-09-21T13:08:09.498-05:002015-09-21T13:08:09.498-05:00It strikes me that a problem with terming everythi...It strikes me that a problem with terming everything from alcoholism to absolutely around the bend psychosis as "mental illness" is the difficulty in describing the many issues and disparate treatments involved. It can also cause confusion because the degrees of impairment are so variable. I've known quite a few high-performing drunks, and many historical movers and shakers exhibited what would now be considered bi-polar tendencies.<br /><br />Stigma is certainly a problem, and Representative Kennedy's efforts to address it as one is admirable, but I would like to see more about specific legislation aimed at clearly defined problems.<br /><br />Tom Evans Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-59334762095461954642015-09-21T12:22:33.819-05:002015-09-21T12:22:33.819-05:00Wonderful journalism. I absolutely despise your p...Wonderful journalism. I absolutely despise your politics but it's stories like this that I can't get enough of, I wish you'd stay off the presidential campaigns. If we took 10% of the money we pay to lock up addicts we could pay for free 28 day rehab for every addict in the nation. <br /><br />AndyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-58734072891950753362015-09-21T11:38:58.981-05:002015-09-21T11:38:58.981-05:00I hope I'm wrong too.I hope I'm wrong too.tatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10088632798195131329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-44207350519131771162015-09-21T10:22:32.369-05:002015-09-21T10:22:32.369-05:00I didn't find them sympathetic, I was noting t...I didn't find them sympathetic, I was noting the ease with which she said them, and the lack of ripples afterward. Not so long ago a presidential candidate admitting their child, or even step-child, was a drug addict who died from her addiction, would have been a bigger deal. Neil Steinberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-42055406527407126982015-09-21T09:55:31.102-05:002015-09-21T09:55:31.102-05:00I didn't find Fiorina's comments as sympat...I didn't find Fiorina's comments as sympathetic as you did. She was basically saying, I lost a family member to alcohol and prescription meds, therefore pot should be illegal. I'm sorry for her tragedy, but don't feel that the rest of us should have to bear the consequences.Bitter Scribenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-84924377774355537842015-09-21T09:18:05.507-05:002015-09-21T09:18:05.507-05:00Neil, thank you for this.
John, I hope that you...Neil, thank you for this. <br /><br />John, I hope that you are wrong about the stigma and speaking with your tongue firmly in your cheek about crazy people. You really never know who is walking around fighting mental illness. Lise @ 79Giftshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05244667674246676733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-34483197005487376182015-09-21T09:14:31.413-05:002015-09-21T09:14:31.413-05:00This is a good overview of a complex subject. It c...This is a good overview of a complex subject. It can be difficult for someone without first hand experience to comprehend the nature of the problem. The stigma derives from ignorance, and in the absence of physical disabilities, outsiders believe that a person is faking it and family members are enabling the behavior, to the ridiculous idea that parents are at fault because of poor child rearing practices.Berniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17157600812959885192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-40300831067975832502015-09-21T08:56:31.951-05:002015-09-21T08:56:31.951-05:00I'm afraid the stigma will never go away. Aft...I'm afraid the stigma will never go away. After all, nobody in his right mind wants to hang around with crazy people. Drunks can be fun, but you have to be one to enjoy another. Treatment and reasonable accommodation should be available, but I don't expect such to be increase any time soon.<br /><br />johntatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10088632798195131329noreply@blogger.com