Being diagnosed with an illness or disorder can be
life-changing, and determining who to share that information with is a personal
decision. There may be fears that disclosure will negatively affect career
opportunities or cause others to view you differently.
This same thinking and reluctance to speak openly
leads to the stigmatization of certain health issues. Mental health issues are
particularly prone to this type of misunderstanding. Someone diagnosed with
bipolar disorder or clinical depression is usually wary of talking about the
condition for fear of what others will think. The irony is that only by
sufferers speaking openly will we see the misperceptions about mental illness
change.
Catherine Zeta-Jones is one of the few celebrities
who has gone public with her bipolar II disorder diagnosis. The 43-year-old
actress admitted to People that her battle with depression
hasn't been easy. "You can't escape what people say, and if you're human
it can be painful," the actress says.
She stays positive by not going online to read
comments or articles about herself, instead focusing her attention on those who
know and love her.
While she admits it was difficult to go public with
her health struggle, she knows her voice can help lessen the stigma. "I'm
not the kind of person who likes to shout out my personal issues from the
rooftops, but with my bipolar becoming public, I hope fellow suffers will know
it is completely controllable," she told People. "I hope I can help remove any stigma attached to it."
Bipolar Disorder Help at La Paloma
If you or someone you love needs treatment for bipolar disorder or
co-occurring addiction issues, call La Paloma at the toll-free number on our
homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any
questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.
