Photo credit. youmatter.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Hi Anne Moss,
I hear you are fighting me. So how’s that going? Sort of like taking salt out of the ocean by the teaspoon, isn’t it?
I admire that you have the audacity to take me on. People are so set in their ways, so invested in their fundamental black and white belief system, I won’t fall easily.
Denial is part of my charm, judgment so crucial to my success and shame is where I thrive. I flourish in an environment where people react only to the latest crisis and then forget it two weeks later. This culture is perfect for me!
People will hold onto “no way it will happen to me,” with everything they have. Until they lose someone they love. Until it hits them in the face like a train wreck. In fact, thanks to me, that opiate epidemic has been able to seep insidiously into our culture and take the lives of tens of thousands. Suicide rates have tripled since 1999!
Why hasn’t anyone invested in solutions? Because I make it so easy to turn your head and I give you an excuse to be apathetic. So easy to write it off as bad parenting or weakness or character. Compassion cannot thrive in an environment where there is no understanding. I block all of that and more.
Parents are still oblivious. Not my kid! Most of those drug events people have are so sparsely attended, you’d think you were presenting on the topic of retreading tires. All of that is my doing.
And the events for suicide? Not unless someone has just died do they even think about venturing out. Way too busy to talk about death! Yuk. There is pasta to eat and craft beer to drink. Can’t worry about someone who was feeling selfish, right? I have the ability to keep that belief system cemented in their minds. You think you can undo all that?
This addiction disease is so bad, people are selling their kids into human trafficking to buy more heroin. Kids as young as 10 dying of overdose. Parents losing 3 or more children to addiction. Teens taking one single pill for the first time in their lives and dying on the spot. Yet, most still say it’s the result of bad parenting, poor choices, and insatiable thirst for partying. All thanks to me.
I’m not outa style yet! I am in vogue, baby. This is as good as a witch hunt and I thought I rocked back then! Best of luck lady. You have a looooong way to go.
Sincerely,
Stigma
💜💜💜
We will only fight this fight and WIN when more and more families,who have been effected by this disease continue to speak up and share their stories with the people who can effect change…thank you Anne
Tell Stigma to go to hell where he belongs! There is absolutely no shame when faced with compassion and understanding. As a society we are getting there! Some people may not like our new President but he plans to fight this war on drugs that is killing in its highest numbers in over a decade.
Bye Stigma! The talk continues. Thank you Anne!
Stigma doesn’t have the strength it used to, thanks to you and others who are willing to fight. Thanks again for opening my eyes. Stigma is not welcome at my house and neither is its friend, ignorance.
Go get ’em, girl! You are the one person who can take it on with grace and strength. I’m in your cheering section… ❤
“Compassion cannot thrive in an environment where there is no understanding”
Unfortunately we don’t learn some things until we go through them ourselves. But, as we all speak out and share our stories, our families, friends, neighbors, and colleagues share them with us and hopefully learn without having to experience some of this pain themselves.
Keep fighting Anne Moss- we are behind you!