Mental Disorder Bias Quotes

Instead of showing visibly distinct alternate identities, the typical DID patient presents a polysymptomatic mixture of dissociative and posttraumatic stressdisorder (PTSD) symptoms that are embedded in a matrix of ostensibly non-trauma-related symptoms (e.g., depression, panic attacks, substance abuse,somatoform symptoms, eating-disordered symptoms). The prominence of these latter, highly familiar symptoms often leads clinicians to diagnose only these comorbid conditions. When this happens, the undiagnosed DID patient may undergo a long and frequently unsuccessful treatment for these other conditions.- Guidelines for Treating Dissociative Identity Disorder in Adults, Third Revision, p5

Every time you feel like mocking a person you disagree with politically by implying that they are mentally ill, I want you to instead imagine you are talking to every single person who actually is mentally ill and telling them they are worthless. That's how it makes mentally ill people feel. Doesn't seem very progressive now does it?

Public stigmatStereotypetNegative belief about a group (e.g., dangerousness, incompetence, character weakness)PrejudicetAgreement with belief and/or negative emotional reaction (e.g., anger, fear)DiscriminationtBehavior response to prejudice (e.g., avoidance, withhold employment and housing opportunities, withhold help)Self-stigmatStereotypetNegative belief about the self (e.g., character weakness, incompetence)PrejudicetAgreement with belief, negative emotional reaction (e.g., low self-esteem, low self-efficacy)DiscriminationtBehavior response to prejudice (e.g., fails to pursue work and housing opportunities)Understanding the impact of stigma on people with mental illness. World Psychiatry. Feb 2002; 1(1): 16–20.PMCID: PMC1489832

Matthew W. Corrigan

There is clear evidence from internal investigations in the past that some raters actually see themselves as adversaries to veterans. If a claim can be minimized, then the government has saved money, regardless of the need of the veteran. Just recently, the press exposed an official e-mail from a high-level staff person who stated in essence that PTSD diagnosis was becoming too prevalent and offered ways to delay and deflect ratings in order to save the government money.

Taylor Armstrong

To not have your suffering recognized is an almost unbearable form of violence.

Before you call yourself a Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu or any other theology, learn to be human first.

Shannon L. Alder