STIGMA - Reducing

Stigma is the unconsciousness treating of others as "less than" because they have a emotional
based illness. It is a major reason that persons who develop PTSD and even TBI refuse to seek help. Even health care providers and medical licensing boards engage in stigma. People fear what they don't understand. Stigma is a based on inadequate understanding of PTSD on the part of the person engaging in stigma (prejudice). Often, it can be reduced through education.

Stigma takes the form of others judements toward yourself as being "less than." Yet- emotional illness is as much an illness as diabetes or cancer. PTSD can become chronic and progress to a chronic form known as "complex PTSD."

Complex PTSD occurs when the original trauma is "reinjured" by untreated trauma, poorly trained therapists, inability to escape prolonged trauma and repeated traumas.

The first step to healing is accepting you do in fact have PTSD. Anyone can develop PTSD. It has nothing to do with "weakness" of character. It is made worse by lack of social support. It's hard to get social support unless you can talk about what's going on inside your head.

It takes one baby step in the direction of risking to trust. . .

God Bless-
ANJYL