How to Cope With Stigma

Coping with stigma means protecting privacy, choosing language carefully, building support, and refusing dehumanizing narratives. 1 2 3

Main ideas

  • Not everyone deserves access to every detail.
  • A short symptom-focused explanation may be safer than full disclosure.
  • Supportive peers and trauma-informed professionals can help counter isolation.

Questions for reflection

  • Who has earned more information?
  • What is the safest version of disclosure for this setting?
  • What support helps after a stigmatizing interaction?

Clinical note

Privacy can be healthy. Secrecy forced by shame is what deserves attention.

Footnotes

  1. Brand, B. L., Sar, V., Stavropoulos, P., Kruger, C., Korzekwa, M., Martinez-Taboas, A., & Middleton, W. (2016). Separating fact from fiction: An empirical examination of six myths about dissociative identity disorder. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 24(4), 257-270. Abstract and overview of six myths. Text-fragment link to the article's summary claim. ↩

  2. International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. (2011). Guidelines for treating dissociative identity disorder in adults, third revision. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 12(2), 115-187. pp. 115-187. Full adult DID treatment guideline PDF. ↩

  3. Palm, M. (2024). Dissociative identity disorder. In Understanding psychological disorders. Baylor University Libraries. Open textbook chapter. Accessible overview chapter. ↩

Up next

How to Fight Stigma

Fighting stigma works best when it is accurate, boundaried, survivor-centered, and not dependent on exposing private trauma.

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Independent from NPD Recovery. Educational content only, not emergency or medical care.

How to Cope With Stigma