Breaking the Stigma
By Bethany Noble-Lindsay
There’s been stigma around going to therapy in our culture for as long as therapy has been around. People reference it around a person being “crazy” or “weak”, that something is wrong with them if they need to go.
But the most beautiful thing is happening. The stigma is being dismantled. People are realizing mental health must be addressed and helped in the same way physical health is addressed. Studies show 1 in 2 people will experience a diagnosable mental health disorder at some point in their life. And that’s not including non- diagnosable mental health struggles that still need to be addressed and worked on. I think it’s safe to say, therapy and focus on mental health is essential and people are starting to realize that.
What if we talked about going to therapy as “brave and strong” instead of “weak”? I actually think this would be an accurate description. Who are the brave ones among us; those ignoring, numbing and hiding our pain, or those showing up and fighting for health, healing and wholeness in their lives? That’s not to shame those of us not ready to start the healing journey, but rather to honor the bravery of those in the trenches, choosing to do the hard, beautiful and painful work of healing.
A few weeks ago I was able to share about connection and vulnerability at church, and it was so great. I loved sharing what I’ve learned, but more importantly, I was so proud of my church for embracing counseling, mental health struggles, relationship struggles, and the need for healthy connection. This is exactly how we continue to break the stigma together!
