Mental health taint is a widespread issue that affects millions of people around the world.
One such condition is self-stigma, which causes individuals to feel negative, and conventional, and to have preconceived ideas about their own mental health condition. Therefore, the team at Athena Behavioral Health has prepared a blog to help you better understand this condition, which discusses the deep impact of self-stigma thoughts on patients’ self-esteem in mental hospitals.
Understanding Self-Stigma
When an individual starts believing the words and thoughts of his surroundings about his mental health condition, that stage is referred to as self-stigma. This kind of self-judgment and negative thoughts about oneself make the individual feel shameful, guilty, and worthless.
The continuity of the same thought process makes one’s mental health condition more severe.
Self-stigma can impact behavior and show up in different ways, including reluctance to seek treatment, social withdrawal, and a rejection of self-worth.
Studies have also consistently shown that self-stigma is highly popular among patients in mental hospitals. Individuals dealing with mental health have experienced self-stigma in significant proportion.
There are several reasons for the high proportion of self-stigma cases in mental hospitals:
Social exclusion:
Patients in mental hospitals often experience social exclusion, which leads to feelings of self-stigma. Having little social interaction and little support from family and friends makes it harder to challenge and overcome negative beliefs.
Tagging and Prognostic
Tagging and prognostic processes in mental hospitals can unintentionally contribute to self-stigma. Patients who are typically labeled in mental hospitals with a mental health condition may be led to believe stereotypes associated with that diagnosis, such as being perceived as a “menace” or “threatening to others.”
Substandard Treatment Experiences
A feeling of unwelcome pressure related to the treatment and advancements made by the mental health care system. Lack of empathy from healthcare providers, as well as unsuccessful therapies or programs, can lead to self-stigmatizing beliefs.
The Effect of Self-Stigma on Self-Esteem
Self-respect is a crucial component for every human being, and it holds even greater significance for individuals grappling with mental illness. It gives an individual a sense of worth and importance for himself. Moreover, it also helps him develop faith in himself. Sadly, self-stigma can severely damage the self-esteem of patients in mental hospitals.
An individual’s self-esteem typically experiences the following common effects:
Negative Self-Perception:
Self-stigma results in a negative self-perception, where individuals perceive themselves through the lens of societal norms. This deformed self-view can ruin self-esteem, making patients feel unworthy or incapable.
Hopelessness and Helplessness:
Patients often feel hopeless and helpless because they have a negative belief in themselves. Somehow, patients start believing that they will never be able to live a normal life and that these mental disorders are permanent. This mindset demotivates them and almost kills their zeal for getting better, which also decreases their self-esteem.
Asociality
Due to self-stigma, an individual may feel a lack of motivation to engage in social interaction. Patients may fear that their mental health condition will lead to social rejection or judgment in their society.
This reduction in social interaction can prevent individuals from getting the help and support they need from their friends and family to maintain healthy self-esteem.
Reluctance towards Seeking Help
Patients often develop a reluctance to seek help due to the stigma associated with their mental illness or their reluctance to accept any treatment plans. The fear of judging any person dealing with mental illness increases day by day.
This reluctance behavior in any individual can reduce the overall recovery process and increase his or her chances of developing low self-esteem.
Dealing with Self-Stigma and Boosting Self-Esteem
Fighting self-stigma and amplifying self-esteem among patients in mental hospitals requires a multi-faceted approach:
Psychoeducation:
Do not hide from patients about their condition. Instead, be honest, tell them the exact issues they have, and then clear up the common and widely spread myths. It will boost their confidence and help them stay motivated for the treatment.
Let them know that their condition is a medical issue, not something they should consider a personal failure.
Therapeutic Interventions
Many therapies and approaches can help identify the real problem and its best treatment. One of the most successful therapies is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Research has shown that this therapy has worked wonders in many cases.
Group Activities
By doing group therapy activities, you can make the patient comfortable and let them know they are not the only ones facing this issue. It helps to generate patient confidence by creating a sense of community and reducing feelings of isolation and self-stigma.
Empathetic Care
Medical experts should be more supportive and caring. They must create an environment that makes patients feel comfortable. Empathetic care and positive interactions with healthcare providers can help neutralize the negative impact of self-stigma and enhance self-esteem.
At Athena Behavioral Health, we understand the patient and create an environment that makes them feel comfortable and secure. This contributes to our reputation as one of the top psychiatric hospitals in Delhi, NCR, and our government-approved status as a mental health hospital. So, if you’d like to get a treatment facility consultation from the best professionals, please email us at customercare@athenabhs.com or call us at +91 9289086193. It is our privilege to take the pain out of yours!
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