Psychologists try to overcome stigma

Mary had suffered from headaches for many years. She had tried many kinds of medications and numerous doctors have suggested that her problem might be related to her tendency to worry about everything.

Sam, 15 years old, suffers from stomach problems that cause him to miss school. The pain and diarrhea might be caused by dislike of school, his doctor said.

Alfred has suffered from low back pain for years, and all the medical examinations have pointed to a psychological reason rather than any specific physical or medical problem. He has been through three unhappy marriages, changed jobs at least once a year and frequently resorts to alcohol to “calm his nerves.”

Physicians have known for some time that many individuals tend to convert psychological problems into physical difficulties. The problem may originate from stress on a job, an unhappy marriage, difficulty in school, or poor self-esteem.

There are many reasons for unhappiness, but I have found that individuals who are unhappy find it difficult to accept the fact that their physical problems may be related to their unhappiness.

Many people make the mistake of relating psychological distress to weakness, laziness, or unwillingness to face life when, in fact, the real reason behind the problem is much deeper and more complex.

This unwillingness to admit the correlation between physical problems and psychological causes often centers around the stigma associated with going to a mental health professional.

Most individuals do not realize that they are in some kind of counseling relationship every day. An individual at work often will ask a supervisor or fellow employee about possible solutions to problems, such as how to perform a task more efficiently, what material to use, etc.

A shopper may ask the grocer about the best products fro the most nutritious meals or may ask the pharmacist about an over-the-counter remedy for a child at home that needs nose drops. Many of us counsel with attorneys and accountants about business problems.

Few mental health practitioners use the couch in their practices. None employ a crystal ball to help make decisions. In fact, most in the mental health field are individuals with families who encounter many of the problems that their patients and clients deal with.

Through training and experience based on scientific research done in medical school and universities, new techniques have been developed to provide painless dentistry and to help overcome the fear of going to the dentist. Likewise, mental health professionals are searching for ways of helping the lay public overcome the fear of going to a mental health expert.

Counseling being performed in church and school settings is helping the public overcome their fear of seeking help from trained counselors. Public figures, entertainers, and individuals in other helping professions have helped remove much of the stigma one attached to seeking help from a professional counselor and many are benefiting from this change.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright © 1993