Handling stigma: A journey of Self Discovery and Resilience

Hello Everyone,

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One of the most painful things a person can experience is stigmatisation.
Most people don't even know how critical the issue of being stigmatized can break people down and throw them into irrecoverable Depression.

In my former work place, I was once a victim of stigma, trust me the experience is not good at all, the feeling was really really painful, I was being marginalized, I was being look down on indiscriminately.

I worked as an inventory manager in one of the most prominent fintech company in Nigeria, please I would like to keep their name as anonymous. I really put my all into the company, meeting my daily targets and surpassing them. But even with all my hard work in the state, I wasn't even recognised, neither is the state I represented, after 2 years of Working without any promotion.

I knew there is a problem somewhere, so I started making calls trying to reach my boss to look into the situation at hand, but severally my calls are being ignored but then I keep trying harder to reach my bosses in the company, after several days and hour, I was able to reach the region manager for North central, after some minutes of our conversation, he then broke the unbelievable news to me, that I can't get any promotion yet because most of the people in the Company don't regard Benue as a productive state, and they can't waste their resources and money.

They all stereotyped Benue state as a farmer state, which won't yield any long term profits. Immediately I heard that I quickly pointed out that I'm part of the most outstanding performance in North Central and that we are also leading on getting our targets met, after I said this, he sighed and told me the honest truth that, they have complained to the management severally but no positive results. Immediately I heard that, my heart was broken, about 2 months after I quit and Join other companies.
Within a short period of time, the state that was neglected by my former company is actually the best performing state (for Agent banking and other products) in the North Central of Nigeria.

As I reflect on the concept of stigma, I'm reminded of the countless individuals who've been impacted by negative perceptions and attitudes. Stigma can manifest in various forms, including social stigma, self-stigma, and institutional stigma.
Stigma can have a profound impact on a person's life, leading to feelings of shame, isolation, and low self-esteem. It's essential to understand the different forms of stigma and how they can affect individuals.
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Let look at the types of Sigma
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Social Stigma: Negative attitudes or stereotypes held by society towards a particular group or individual. This can include prejudice, discrimination, and marginalization.

Self-Stigma: Internalized negative attitudes or shame that an individual may experience as a result of societal stigma. This can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, and self-blame..

Institutional Stigma: Policies or practices that perpetuate stigma within institutions, such as healthcare or education. This can include discriminatory laws, policies, or practices that limit access to resources and opportunities, for example in my experience shared it was a sigma in the company aimed at Benue state.

The impact of sigma to people is very critical

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Stigma can contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. The constant barrage of negative messages and stereotypes can lead to feelings of hopelessness and despair.
Stigma can also lead to social isolation, making it challenging for individuals to form and maintain relationships. This can include feelings of loneliness, disconnection, and rejection. What about health care restrictions too, sigma can be so dangerous.

In conclusion*
I strongly believe stigma requires a multifaceted approach that involves education (Creating awareness and understanding of the concept of sigma and how to overcome it), support for people suffering from past or present stigma, and finally self-care. By building resilience and promoting greater understanding and acceptance people can all overcome the stigma Pandemic.

Here is my response to #hl-w159e3

Thanks for your time and do have an awesome weekend ♥️