STIGMA...
"Full grown adults refuse to accept the concept of mental health issues because to them it is a sign of weakness"
"Yes, these kids just hype it up. I know it's her mind playing with her, anyway. Such a waste of money on these counseling sessions. We didn't have such issues in our times, did we? A little tension hits and ah, kids make mountains out of molehills these days", my father spoke in a frustrated tone. I went to my bed with a heavy heart and sighed with disgust on myself. That night, a number questions clouded my mind. Was this diagnosis such a stigma to my identity? I often felt my parents are ashamed of me, ashamed of how unproductive i've been in my life. I couldn't really do well in any sphere of my life because i've mostly been perplexed and i struggle to deliver my parents what they want to see me as. My mum has always quietened me on the topic of my mental health and neurotic issues. She's always told me that it's not an "appropriate" matter to discuss. I've battled for acceptance with my flaws and in turn, it made feel unworthy.
Mental health issue isn't just a problem, it's a taboo.
The question is, if a part of me is mostly kept hidden, is my mental health issue a stigma?
A big thanks to Nafisa Tasnim for volunteering to be the model as well as help with the writeup, Shaheen Khurshid for helping with the paints.
