Did you know that living with a chronic illness can also come along with feelings of stigma?

Folks living with diabetes mellitus type 2, obesity, and a mental illness report feeling higher rates of stigma than the general population. Even worse, the stigma extends beyond the illness:

their families across generations, friendships, work impairment, and health care systems that provide treatment make them feel stigmatized.

You may be wondering how any of this affects communication.

Well, when we feel like an ‘outsider’ or are treated differently, especially by family and friends, we will talk less. We may even isolate ourselves or prefer to stay-in to avoid the possibility of others staring or making us feel uncomfortable. We may even tell lies or half -truths to family members or healthcare professionals to avoid feelings of shame or embarrassment. None of this behavior is helpful to our physical or emotional. That is why, communication is particularly important when managing a chronic illness.

You may be wondering what to do if you feel stigmatized or if you know someone that feels stigmatized because of a health issue. Keep reading for 4 practical tips on how to help yourself of someone else:

If you feel stigmatized related to health issues, I encourage you to:

• Connect with a family, friend, or healthcare provider and discuss your experiences. Do not stay silent about your feelings. Your feelings matter and you need to express them.
• Explore a new activity or revisit an old one. Enjoying yourself and laughter are great medicine for the soul. Consider an activity you used to enjoy doing and try it out again. Or try something completely new and different. The key is to have fun and a good time.

If you know someone that feels stigmatized related to health issues, I encourage you to

• Take the time to listen to their story about their condition. Be curious about how they feel and how the illness has changed their life.
• Offer support. Time and attention are the greatest gifts we can extend to anyone. Support can be offered in many ways. You can offer financial support, offer to take them to medical appointments, offer to complete a household chore (like washing clothes or cooking a meal), or offering to take them on an outing to get them out of the house. Be creative but most important, ask them how you can best support them.