Stigma is funny really. I find not only do people who have a brain injury or mental illness themselves have stigma’s, but of course so does their inner circle. The general public are mostly unaware of the situation and so cannot be judged or condemned for their ignorance. Friends and Families, that is where the sadness and grief comes from. We lose people we really love and whose company we enjoy. But how are you supposed to let people know about you without writing a book or something?! I mean seriously.
My wife and I found it important to keep our business to ourselves when the kids were young. We eventually had to tell them of course that their Dad had brain injuries and mental illness. This lead to positive discussions in their peer groups and they would support other kids who had parents or family members who were ill as well.
This is essentially when we decided that the cost couldn’t really be too high. If we saved someone from harming themselves. It was time. A post on the internet mocks the kids of today who can’t function mentally and emotionally, and compares them to the brave young kids who went to war Sep 1, 1939 – Sep 2, 1945.
I would argue in the other direction. Our kids are the live test mice for integrating a humanity changing technology – in the internet. Integrating this into human lives without losing the humanity that binds us together is challenging globalization. I would argue the stakes have never been higher or the anxiety greater for our children. The old wars between nations and cultures are now being exploited with thoughtsuading; where some highly intelligent butthole with sick psychiatric skills gets a hold of your child’s mind or heart on the internet and dangles bright and shiny lies in front of them. Add the old sway of glamour, music and money – while they stop listening to their parents – and this is a recipe for disaster. Thank heaven for Grandparents if you have them. But even Grandparents look obsolete if they can’t send an email or use the ‘net.
Stigma to me is simply being unaware of someone else’s situation and not being compassionate enough in general.
I think our kids understand who is in their corner.
#kidsaregreat #teenagersrock #smallbrainsbighearts #bigkurthasspoken
