I woke up to two things that made me think today (as opposed to other days, when I don't think?) Yes, I only think on...Yikes!! No one told me it was Monday morning. That is definitely a non-thinking morning!
Anyway, where was I? Oh yes...the page my Internet opens to MSN, so that I can see a little of everything and news. Well, one headline caught my attention. It said, "Does Unemployment Benefits Encourage Laziness?". The article was actually very good and fair and raised some good points. But, what they used as a teaser perturbed me.
Then, I'm making my early rounds of blogs and I find that my joking response to a question about having a large sum of money being attacked. Some background, this person usually is abrasive and we have butted heads when it comes to many issues one of which is mental illness. I'm not being singled out when it comes to his abrasiveness. And, he has been open minded with much effort in the past.
My comment was, "I could never work again…wait, I may be headed that way!! :-)." His comment, "Never work again? What and live off the back of all those honest hard working tax-paying citizens all around you? It is you who should be sent to jail CC, for intentionally taking advantage of your fellow countrymen and abusing your nation’s heavily burdened social security funds. It’s akin to theft from the common man."
My response back was, "...you start off by insulting me when I was making a joke. First of all I have an illness that prevents me from working. Additionally, I do not qualify for any benefits at this time, so we are strictly a one house income. I do plan to work or go back to school once I am able to do so. Just because you can’t see my illness, doesn’t mean it isn’t as debilitating as cancer, stroke or heart disease."
First of all, I am just perturbed because of the ignorance and judgemental attitudes toward mental illness. I judge myself because I want to work and have an extremely difficult time not doing so. I never, in my life, thought I'd be in such a position. But, I also know that I cannot handle the stress of even volunteering. Depression and PTSD have real symptoms that are debilitating and therapy to get through this is exhausting.
On the one blog that I mentioned, my mission is to try to reach as many people that I can to breakdown the stigma of mental illness. I know that I won't reach all, but if I can reach some to have just a little more understanding and compassion for those with mental illness and illnesses that can't be seen then I will feel accomplished in this area.
