stigma of sz/sza where does it come from?
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It comes from fear of someone different to the norm
Unmedicated SZs who are not receiving the treatment they should be. They get the press.
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Ignorance or lack of understanding. Lack of knowledge creates an “other”. People are afraid of what they don’t know and if they feel others are different they treat them differently.
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I think it’s really interesting how so many life altering conditions get lots of people doing things to raise awareness and people supporting people affected by it with charity runs etc but schizophrenia/psychosis (as well as personality disorders) do not receive the same type of good press.
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Some stigma is self-stigma:
[Self-stigma in schizophrenia, or internalized stigma, occurs when individuals with the disorder internalize negative societal stereotypes, leading to feelings of shame, low self-esteem, and reduced self-efficacy, impacting their recovery and well-being. ] Google AI Overview
Maybe the biggest fear the public has regarding people with schizophrenia is that we’re dangerous. I think the stats will show that we’re more likely to be the victim of a crime than the perpetrator. However, as @shutterbug said, people with schizophrenia who are unmedicated and not receiving treatment do make the headlines when they are violent, especially mass shootings.
That said, we are NOT bad people. Yes, sometimes people with schizophrenia do bad things. So do people without schizophrenia. People without schizophrenia kill their spouse for insurance money. People without schizophrenia kill police officers.
I reject all of the stigma. I’m a good person. And nothing society says will ever change that.
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I feel the same way @Catman
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Ahem. Speak for yourself.
[ resumes plotting world domination ]
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Believe it or not a lot of the stigma comes from the medical professionals that are suppose to help us.
Ever try to get treated at the Emergency Room at your local hospital?
Just awful
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So true @Wave. As a former nurse working closely with psychiatrists, I got the dubious honor of hearing what some psychiatrists really thought of us patients. Especially the female bipolar patients.
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It doesn’t help that some people with schizophrenia really are idiots and/or pricks to people. Whether it be incapacity to read the room or just plain delusion - the illness really is one that brings out the worst mentally
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Tried once. Will never try again.
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Well, there are less functional people who take it upon themselves to advocate for all with schizophrenia and they inadvertently make stigma much worse for those with professional lives. Because now people assume we’re all like these lower functioning individuals that have made themselves more visible.