The Stigma of Mental illness
Stigma; The dictionary says it is a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality or person.
Stigma often comes from a lack of understanding or fear, also inaccurate or misleading media representations of mental illness.
I've learned though threw out the years that Stigma is not an obstacle. Psalm 139:14 says, "I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works and that my soul knows very well".
It was 1978 when I became ill with mental illness. The stigma drove me more insane, I was in hiding most my days, and my life was with much shame. And of course my life was a mess. I contemplated many many things including suicide. Hospitalizations was a norm for me in those first five years of my illness. I was hospitalized five times, once a year because I would lose my mind, not knowing who I was and where I was. The first time I was in the hospital for six months, the other Four times they would lock me up for three months at a time in the VA hospital. But it was in 1980 when I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, while going threw this my life began to change for the better.
Even though I still have mental illness today, my illness started going in a positive direction back then because I had the Holy Spirit.
In 1980 I received the Holy Spirit but I did not go to church or read the Bible until 1987. Before that I was going to commit suicide, but the day I stepped into that church in 1987 that thought just disappeared from my mind, and was also going to get a divorce at the time.
The first day at that church a brother in Christ gave me a verse. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
I read that and ran with it and took it to heart. I said to myself though, the Lord has a plan for me? I'm mentally ill, I am dirt, and no good in this world.
But I believed that verse and started going to church and reading and applying the Bible on a daily basis from then on.
It has not been an easy road, it is now 2022 and I can easily say that Jesus has never, never, never let me down. Romans 8:28 says, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
All things. Good and bad work for our good. you see it's all about Jesus in the true world. He created us and we were created for Him. And until we truly realize this we mentally ill or not will have a deep void and a lack of real peace in our lives. And the good that all things work for is being more like Jesus.
Sin is a depressant, a mental illness maker. Everyone is ill in one way or another. its just that some of us need medication to treat our illness and that does not mean you are inferior. Luke the apostle was a doctor and God used him mightily. If you need medication don't feel bad.
Today I don't feel the stigma, I see it and I feel an urgency to do something about it because of Jesus. I see how God has healed me with medication and the miracles He has done in my life and has given me a Hope and a future not to bring me harm but to prosper me. and the prosperity is in my mind in my case. I still have the illness but I feel I don't. Praise the Lord!
