How To Remove The Stigma Surrounding Mental Health Conditions

Sometimes things happen in life and we don’t know how to deal with them. Or perhaps you’ve struggled with feelings of emptiness for a long time, but you don’t know how to cope. Talking to someone about how you’re feeling can have an incredible impact on your life, but the first step to doing so is removing the stigma surrounding counseling and seeing a therapist.

At Metis Center For Psychological Services in Boulder, CO, we offer counseling for anxiety disorders, depression, and other mental health conditions. Whether you’ve just experienced a tragedy or you have a chronic condition, we can help. Learn more about how to remove the stigma surrounding mental health issues, and contact us today to schedule a counseling appointment.

Address What’s Causing The Stigma

Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions about mental health issues that can lead to stereotyping and even discrimination. Whether you or someone else has stereotyped you, it can be even more detrimental to your overall health.

Signs of stigma include a reluctance to seek counseling, a lack of understanding from your loved ones or employer, fewer opportunities at work and in your personal life, and even health insurance that doesn’t properly cover your expenses for mental health. Luckily, there are ways to address these effects.

Seek Counseling

It can be one of the most difficult steps in your journey to better mental and emotional health, but scheduling a counseling appointment can make the biggest difference. Counseling can help you identify negative thought patterns, help you reduce the symptoms of mental health issues that are affecting your life, and even help you address the stigma you face.

Don’t Isolate Yourself

If you don’t have people in your life who understand your health condition, it can be easy to isolate yourself from the world and not tell anyone about what you’re struggling with.

As much as possible, find people you can trust to talk to about what you’re dealing with. When you find people that show support and compassion toward what you’re going through, you’ll feel less stigmatized and alone by your condition.

Find Support

There are a variety of local and nationwide support groups that offer programs and resources to teach those with mental health issues, their families, and the public about how to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.

You can check out the website for National Alliance On Mental Illness (also called NAMI) for more information and resources.

Speak Up

You are your biggest advocate when it comes to standing up against stigma. When you have the courage to share your opinions and experiences, you not only help others understand, but you also help others who are struggling to speak out.

Don’t let the stigma surrounding mental health issues make you doubt yourself or make you feel shame. Seek counseling to discover how to overcome negative thought patterns, gain confidence, and realize what you’re capable of accomplishing. Contact the Metis Center For Psychological Services in Boulder, CO, to schedule your counseling appointment to help remove the stigma surrounding your mental health condition.