I read on some place that don’t buy into the story of mental illness stigma.Is the stigma real?or is it forgivable?
Can someone say they are mentally illed proudly?no
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Stigma is very real. I was told, on admission to my independent living facility, not to tell anyone about my MI. The elderly people who live here would not understand. And they would be judgmental. So, I keep it secret.
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Yes it’s real. Unfortunately 
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Yes but only in this forum 
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My ex went from wanting to marry me to assuming I would want to kill him just because I told him I have schizophrenia.
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Oh it’s real alright. I’ve had people stop talking to me after they learn I suffer from schizophrenia paranoia
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It’s real, but I don’t let it stop me.There is always someone out there looking down on you for some reason or other, SZ or not. Just keep going.
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It’s very real. People are becoming more accepting than they used to be, but it is still highly present among all parts of society. Also, I find schizophrenia has an even worse stigma than depression and anxiety because it is less advocated for.
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I’m pushing 50 years old and I’m discovering ageism is real. Also a bit overweight and we all know there’s stigma attached to that, too. The energy put into worrying about stigma is energy not invested into being awesome. People don’t worry if you’re nuts or fat if you’re useful enough, and I am.
That’s how you beat stigma.
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there is a stigma especially in my family and my partner’s family. my partner’s family is worse. when my partner first told her parents that I had schizophrenia they asked immediately if I was dangerous.
then a few years ago, during my partner’s great grandmother’s funeral her step grandma told my mother in law she didn’t understand how they can live in the same house with me and that I could turn on them and kill them in their sleep. my mother in law responded that I would never hurt anyone that I am more of a danger to myself.
I believe stigma (a negative societal belief based on schizophrenia) is real, but I also believe self-stigma (an internalized negative belief of one’s self based on schizophrenia) is just as real. Self-stigma results in low self-esteem and low self-efficacy.
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I wish I could go back in time I would have told no one. I’ve faced stigma for years.
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Several years ago my mother in law was complaining about how they needed more volunteers at their school (she’s an elementary school teacher) so a couple weeks later I had decided I wanted to help, but she refused to even ask if I could (it’s usually parents) because she thought I would be a danger to the kids.
What a terrible thing for your mother-in-law to say to you.
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I tell no one. 
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I told my psychologist therapist that my diagnosis from the Hospital was Schizoaffective Disorder and now she is treating me like a child.
I can tell the difference in her demeanor.
Stigma exists among the medical profession as well.
ER doctors and staff were horrible to me after they knew of my Schiz Diagnosis.
If I have to reveal my MI - I tell people I have bipolar.
The stigma is way less.
Stigma is so real I have even experienced it with doctors for 12 years who have refused obstinately to help me because they thought it was just in my head or just a mental illness. Not worth doing any effort for…
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