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I want to be the queen of good news, and warm fuzzy feelings, I do. I really, really do, but sometimes we all have to throw out our crowns and step out of our gowns. Today, I’m not sending positive vibes into the universe. I’m pissed off. I’m disgusted, and I’m tired.
Yesterday on another blog I read three short stories written by another blogger. Two of the stories had characters with schizophrenia. One character wanted to kill her children and the other one wanted to kill her husband.
I wrote to the blogger that she had used stereotypes about schizophrenia to create her characters. I also said she was worsening the stigma for people who suffer from the disease.
She wrote back basically saying that just because it wasn’t my personal experience to be homicidal, her story reflected the truth of other people with schizophrenia.
Yes, that is accurate if you follow the mainstream media. In the past few years there have been a few high profile shootings where the shooter turned out to have schizophrenia. True story. I will admit that. Recently, there was a depressed man who brought down an airplane. Are we going to start portraying all people with depression as murders?
There are over two million people in the United States living with schizophrenia and let me tell you if all of us were homicidal or even suicidal you would hear about it every single night on the news. Instead, you hear about all kinds of people committing acts of violence, and guess what? Most of them don’t have a mental illness.
Two million people are a lot of people. There were only five thousand people in the town where I grew up. So, take my small town and multiply it by 400 and you will get all the people living in the United States with schizophrenia. If that many people were doing anything all at the same time, you would probably hear about it. I guess it is possible that the majority of us are watching television at let’s say eight o’clock every evening. Even that is unlikely.
We aren’t all homeless.
We aren’t all criminals.
I am fed up with the news media.
I am fed up with Hollywood.
I’m fed up with people who don’t do their research.
I guess someone living an average life, managing their symptoms fairly well, doesn’t make a great story. However, it is a true story, a more common story, a real story for most of the people living with schizophrenia.
Stop being such junkies for sensationalism and the bizarre. Stick to facts and statistics.
I’ll put my crown and gown back on now. Peace, love, health and prosperity. Over and out.
I am so sorry that you have to have days and experiences like that with those who do not know and do not understand. Keep doing what you do. Your voice needs to be heard and by sharing your ideas and feelings with that blogger, maybe something sinks in and next time the character in his or her story will not carry a label or a stigma that is so unfair. Take care, Cheryl
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I am 100% with you on this one. Mass media and people in general do not take the time to understand what they often fear. I deal with panic attacks and get tired of people saying, “Work the steps,” or “call your sponsor” or “let go and let God.” Keep spreading the word.
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hi there! I nominated you for Liebster award. I am also new to it. I just followed the steps. I will post it on my site. Thank you!
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Thank you for commenting on my site so that could find yours because I love what I just read here. I have suffered with depression for over 15 years and I am constantly raging against stereotypes that keep people from understanding mental illness. Ignorance breed contempt. Knowledge is power.
Keep doing what you are doing here – cast off that crown and gown (love that expression btw) and say what’s in your heart. I for one want to hear it.
Sherry
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Thank you for your kind words!
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Hey, I’m schizophrenic too! Oh how I hate the stigma and misunderstandings. Please keep blogging!
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Welcome, welcome, welcome! Nice to meet you here.
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Thanks! Likewise. Contact me anytime to discuss schizophrenia or anything else!
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I understand. I have depression and this is exactly what pisses me off! I live pretty normal life, I study, I’m engaged, I work, I write a blog, I’m planning my future with my partner, planning to have kids and live happily ever after and all that stuff. Yet every time someone with depression is portrayed in media, it is a suicide or homicide, like that man who crashed a plane. Every time this happens, I feel like people around me think if I’m also like this. We have role models of people overcoming all kinds of physical handicap, but where are role models of people living normal life with mental illness?!
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I know exactly what you mean! It is tough to beat the misunderstandings and stigma.
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Yes, I agree!
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Pingback: Suicide and Homicide, the Role Models for Mentally Ill | Screaming Out to the World
Thank you for your post. I agree, it is frustrating and hard sometimes. We need to be the ones to educate the public. Please keep writing!
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I’m really with you on this one. I’m going to follow how you go.All the very best.
Kris
http://www.awritersden.wordpress.com
http://www.the1951club.org
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Thank you!
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YA!!!!!
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Basically people are ass holes, the media are drama queen and the whole lot need to get a life and leave other’s alone , take care stay safe
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