PWMD Syndrome Case Study

As a result of stigma experience, PWMD’s daily living area and social network shrunk. This occurred not only due to the direct influence of being physically restrained and being avoided by others, but also due to the indirect influence of stigma experience mediated by PWMD’s behavioral change, worsened relationship between PWMD and others, and protective restriction from families. After being negatively treated, PWMD “closed off to anybody” and distanced themselves from others by themselves. For a girl with a mental disorder, “going out sometimes is like an obstacle” because she became “afraid of people’s judgments.” Another indirect influence were found in the way families treated PWMD. In response to stigma experience, families started to restrict PWMD’s behaviour, in order to protect PWMD from being hurt from others. For example, families prohibited PWMD from going outside alone, helping sales of home business, and speaking outside. Furthermore, negative …show more content…
It was not an easy thing for PWMD to disclose their mental disorders to others. The decision often takes a while and their mind wavered between telling and not telling. After struggling with many worries about others’ reaction, some of them chose to open it up, hoping their important others such as friends and church mates show great empathy and not changing attitude toward them. Under such a circumstance, a negative reaction directly inhibited PWMD from seeking further help for mental health needs and also worsened symptoms of mental disorder. For example, a woman with mental disorder told:
“I actually have given up finding someone helping me. When I open about my mental illness, they all have the same reactions. They laughed. Therefore, I do not think there would be any solutions. And it triggers my anxiety and I feel overwhelmed and breathless when I remember their facial expressions. It affects