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The Stigma Around Getting Help

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Often times, outside help is needed in order for one to receive the help necessary for getting better. However, this need for help is not always easy to come to terms with. There is a stigma that goes along with the need for help. Society has one believe that asking for help is a sign of weakness. This was apparent in Jim’s journey with his mental illness. When describing his life with depression and anxiety, Jim explained that growing up he was taught not to share his problems with other people. He was taught to pick himself up by the bootstraps and to get over the difficulties he was facing. Therefore, therapy was never even considered. The stigma around getting help makes this still a relevant problem for many individuals today. Many people are afraid to reach out for help because of the fear of sounding crazy if he or she does. There are also many people that do not believe in getting help for the fear of looking weak or incapable of taking control of his or her life. Our society has a very fast past life and expects everyone to be able to keep up. Conversely, research shows that help has more benefits than consequences. It is explained, “Perceived social support is associated with better outcomes in individuals facing stressors. Social support is a robust predictor of resiliency and recovery (Blais, Renshaw & Jakupcak, 2014, p.116).” The stigma around seeking help is creating a barrier for individuals to use the resources necessary to get better. It would be more

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