This document discusses the pain of stigma, defining it as a mark of shame or disgrace attached to acts seen as sinful. It notes that stigma originates from sin and can occur due to health issues, addiction, revenge, gender differences, or disability. Stigma causes shame, depression, low self-esteem and can lead to isolation, suicide or mental illness. The document addresses stigma's effects on teenagers, youths and adults and emphasizes the importance of victims seeking counseling and turning to God for forgiveness and guidance to overcome stigma.

2. THE PAIN OF
STIGMASTIGMA
Stigmatization on Teens/Youths/Adults
Joyce Adah M.

3. Copyright ©2018
by Joyce Adah
All rights reserved. No portion of
this book may be reproduces in a
ny form, except for brief quotati
on, reviews, studies, teaching, co
unselling, without the prior writt
en permission of the Author.en permission of the Author.
Written by Joyce Adah Michael
Proofread by Mrs. Egahi
& Mr. Victor Omale.
joyceadah
joyce.adah@gmail.com
+2347062866597

4. Dedication
• This book Is dedicated to everyone out there
who have been wrongly corrected and trauma
tized due to depression.tized due to depression.
• And to any one who will use this book for cou
nselling purposes, teaching, motivation and sp
eech delivery.

5. Prologue
Life is a game said by many.
In the game of life , you don't byecout rules,
I mean laid down rules and regulations else y
ou loose the game and go back home with s
hame that can never be forgotten
But life must go on, you can't continue to dw
ell in the memories of the pain you went thr
ough, the shame and downfall.
The time has come for you to find meaning iThe time has come for you to find meaning i
n life and braze up to live the life God has de
stined for you.
You can stand again and fight for life lifting u
p the banner of victory God has given you.
Waving the flag of joy, Peace, happiness, lov
e found in the death and resurrection of Chri
st.
Say to yourself "I can live again".

6. Content
• Stigma
• Strata of stigma
• Originator of Stigma
• Causes of Stigma
• Effects of Stigma• Effects of Stigma
• Pain of Stigma
• Stigmatization on Teenagers
• Stigmatization on Youths
• Stigmatization on Adults
• The Way Forward

7. What is stigma?
Stigma can be said to be the error mark, sign or
opinion of people on someone who did
something unacceptable
It is the shame/disgrace attached to any act
regarded as sin.regarded as sin.
Sin is an act, thought, or way of behaving that goes
against the teachings of a religion. The sin might
be committed knowingly or unknowingly.
Stigma is a form of correction done in a wrong
way to someone who has done something bad.

8. These wrong corrections include:
• Ill accusations
• Unaware broadcast of mistake made by
people around you
• Being marked out among others• Being marked out among others
• Rejection of opinions/suggestions that may
come from the victim
• Sidelined in all functions

9. Strata of Stigma
•Social Stigma
•Religion Stigma•Religion Stigma
•Traditional Stigma

10. Social Stigma
Social Stigma is a type of stigma that comes from
people around you. It could be in a cooperate, low or
high leveled organization, or your immediate
environment.
Social stigma can come from your family, friends, peer
groups neighbors, members of place of worship,
school mate and colleagues at place of work wrongly
correcting an act of sin or disobedience to dogma.
Dogma can be said to be a belief that a group of people
holds to be true. These beliefs can be political,
philosophical and moral.

11. Religion Stigma
Religion Stigma can be said to be a type of stigma that comes
to a person who go against rules/regulations, beliefs/values
and doctrines governing a religious organization.
Recognized religion include:
• Christian
• Islamic
The above listed have laid down principles, values, doctrines
and beliefs adhere to by all member if disobeyed faced
with penalty and before this penalty victims, most times go
through stigma that can lead to spiritual, physical,
emotional, social and economical imbalance.

12. Traditional Stigma
Traditional Stigma is another type of stigma that
comes to a member “of a group of community
with laid down rules and principles passed
from one generation to another” who violatefrom one generation to another” who violate
any of the rules/principles.
That is: traditional stigma is a type of stigma
that comes to a person or group of persons
who violate laid down rules and principle.

13. Originator of Stigma
Lucifer the fallen Angel is the originator of stigma, we can see that from the
days of Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis 3: 1 – 13. Genesis 3: 1 now
the snake was the most cunning animal that the LORD God had made. The
snake asked the woman, “did God really tell you not to eat fruit from any
tree in the garden?
You might be questioning why devil when its just an animal created by God?
You are right to ask, the following reference from the bible will aid us
understand better;understand better;
Note: the word SERPENT – SNAKE
The devil is so cunning that it can come to anybody via any medium just to
prevail but the strong in the Lord and the chosen will always have a
testimony to share. The snake was used as a medium to entice, deceive
and make Eve to sin against God. When the devil was thrown down from
heaven, its mission has always being to destroy every good thing God has
made and to make God regret His very own favourite creature “we human
being made in His image and likeness” so we aught to be wise just like this
very serpent used by the devil but humble as a dove to God’s glory”.

14. Revelation 12: 9 the huge dragon was thrown out – that ancient (old)
serpent, called the devil, or Satan, that deceived the whole world. He
was thrown down to earth, and all his angels with him.
Revelation refer to the devil as that old, ancient that’s to tell you that the
devil was there from the beginning, going round deceiving, enticing,
tempting and destroying people lives through various medium making
them not to be in the destined life God has packaged for them.
The following mediums are most times used by the devil to tempt, entice
and stigmatize God’s people:
• Fellow human• Fellow human
• Animals of any kind
• Needs, lack and wants
• Desires
• Burdens
• Anxiety
• Self
• Pride

15. Tricks of the devil that leads to stigma
• Temptation
• Enticement
• Hunger and thirst for disobedience to God’s
instructioninstruction
• Selfish desire
• Sin
• Accusation
• Judgment
• Stigmatization

16. Note the question channeled to Eve by the serpent: “did God really tell
you not to eat fruit from any tree in the garden?”
Same question comes to us on daily basis; example:
• As a married man ‘should you eat from one pot daily, just one kind
of meal why try another and see how it thirst’ (adultery)
• As a young adult, you should keep yourself till your wedding night.
‘Why? you can test before you acquire’ (fornication)
• I don’t have money, I need this item, ‘why wait? when you can get
it with no permission or pain’ (robbery, stealing, thief)it with no permission or pain’ (robbery, stealing, thief)
• I love the looks of that girl/boy, she is my idol. ‘Well you can follow
her page on face book, twitter, LinkedIn etc to know what's up all
the time, don’t you think so?’ (idolatry)
• Am afraid this I’ve done might hurt him/her, “then give an excuse
to cover up” ‘cover up?’ (lie) (deceit)
• Why this pregnancy now, oh not now, oh mine! Not now “then
abort it, you don’t need it, then why keep it, at least you have a
reason not to have the baby now” (abortion – murder) killing
(killer/murderer)

17. • I love that car that just past, I think I will love it if I own such a
car, I should be the better owner. Hmmm (covetousness)
(envy)
• This cant be! Why should her son be what he is, it should be
my son, yes my child should be in that position. I should be
the one in that position, not him/her. I should be the one
taking this solo not her/him. (hatred, strife, jealousy, anger
witchcraft)
• Imagine me, a whole me being treated like trash, what? I• Imagine me, a whole me being treated like trash, what? I
stood there unable to do nothing. (fight back) (anger, strife)
• Am so lonely, depressed and week, I need consolation right,
(take some wine to cool off, it will help, try it) (drunkenness,
pain and bitterness)
• And lots more the devil come to trick us every day using
everything around us to test our faith and patience. Most
times we forget God’s promises and tend to yield, but I pray

18. we will emulate Jesus and rebuke the devil. Matthew 4: 1 – 11 ‘1
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be
tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and
forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the
tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God,
command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered
and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the
devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on adevil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a
pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of
God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels
charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee
up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus
said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord
thy God.1

19. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high
mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the
world, and the glory of them;9 And saith unto him, All
these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and
worship me.10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence,
Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy
God, and him only shalt thou serve.11 Then the devil
leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministeredleaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered
unto him.’
My prayer is that God will help us understand the tricks of
the devil to lure us to sin there by lead to God’s anger,
human judgment and stigmatization. Amen.

20. Causes of Stigma
• Sin
• State of health
• Addiction• Addiction
• Revenge
• Gender differences
• Disability

21. Examples of causes of stigma
• Sin (disobedience to God’s word, doctrines and beliefs
of a religion, violating of a laid down rules and
principles.)
• State of health (HIV/AIDs, mental illness,
unfruitfulness and disease)unfruitfulness and disease)
• Addiction (alcoholism, drug abuse, homosexualism,
lesbianism, prostitution, infidelity lies and gossip)
• Revenge (fighting, quarrelling, killing and destroying)
• Gender differences (males overruling females, girl
child sidelined for boy child in the family, unwanted
pregnancy and favouritsm).

22. Example of sin
Exodus 20: 3 – 17; Galatians 5: 19 - 21
• Idolatry
• Disobedience
• Covetousness
• Stealing• Stealing
• Fighting
• Killing
• Adultery
• Fornication
• Hatred

23. • Uncleanness
• Lasciviousness
• Witchcraft
• Strife
• Sedition
• Heresies
• Envying• Envying
• Drunkenness
• Anger
• Reveling
• Lies/deceit

24. Effects of Stigma
Stigma can lead to the following:
• Shame
• Pain and bitterness
• Depression
• Inferiority complex
• Un-forgiveness
• Disbelief in one’s own abilities• Disbelief in one’s own abilities
• Lack of self worth
• Segregation
• Loneliness
• Suicide
• Seclusion
• Low self Esteem
• Mental illness

25. Pain of Stigma
Pain of stigma is the discomfort, sad feelings and
distress that comes on a stigmatized victim.
The following are examples of pain caused by
stigma:
Emotional imbalance• Emotional imbalance
• Mental illness
• Feels of rejection
• Headache caused by depression
• Frustration

26. Stigmatization on Teenagers
Stigma that can come to teenagers include the following:
• Constant looks from friends and parents ‘that kind of look that set
one’s heart ablaze and make the person recall every bit of the
incident. Such leads to high/low blood pressure.
• On every mistake your attention is taken to your past mistakes,
‘you again, remember you did something similar to this last year I
forgave you now you again.’ oh mine! That is like a sharp knife cut
into the mind and heart of the victim that left him/her with silentinto the mind and heart of the victim that left him/her with silent
mental illness.
• Ill names from teachers in school and school mate. ‘big head empty
score, fine girl empty brain, holy girl with many mistakes, holy holy
no be for mouth etc’ live the victim with low self esteem.
• Teens being left to hunger as punishment can lead to development
of bad habit like stealing, prostitution, and making them destitute.
• Lack of care from the right people due to previous mistakes can
lead to frustration.

27. Stigmatization on Youths
Stigma that can come to youths include the following:
• Lack of job opportunity after graduation. ‘your mate are
bread winner in their family’ can the victim to frustration
and giving up of hope that can lead to untimely death.
• Delay of spouse, female are mostly victims of this, ‘your
mate are married what are you still doing here’ this canmate are married what are you still doing here’ this can
also lead to frustration and desperation that can make
the victim miss God’s perfect will.
• Unwanted pregnancy i.e. out of wedlock you become
pregnant, ‘sets everyone around you wondering and
talking about the kind of you are without. This can lead
to pain and bitterness and also sin of murder.

28. Aside the mentioned above the following are also easily
used to stigmatize adults in their family and society
• Drug abuse
• Gambling
• School drop out
• Failure to pass an examination
• Weakness
• Smoking and drinking
• Theft/stealing
• Malpractice of all sorts
• Premarital sex
• Prostitution
• And lots more you may think of.

29. Stigmatization on Adults
Stigma that can come to adults include the following:
• Unfaithfulness from spouse; ‘when will you stop cheating, the
children are aware of your misbehaviors . . . . .’ this leave the
victim with confusion of the heart, being unable to decide the
right thing to do.
• Infidelity from spouse; ‘I don’t believe you, and the reason is
that you lie to me all the time to cover up your mess’ thisthat you lie to me all the time to cover up your mess’ this
make the victim loose hope to change and become a better
person.
Aside the mentioned above the following are also easily used to
stigmatize adults in their family and society
• Drunkenness
• Lack of adequate provision to family needs
• Joblessness

30. • Theft and stealing
• Smoking
• Anger and strife
• Nagging
• Infertility
• Illiteracy• Illiteracy
• Site of clan/origin
• And lots more you may think of.

31. The Way Forward
• Victims should be rightly corrected (emulate Jesus in dealing with
the issue of stigma) John 8: 3 – 11.
• Victims should go to true Christ Believing pastors, counselors and
psychologists for counseling ‘advice’ instead of dying in silence.
• Victims should share their experience with other victims, co-
worshippers and genuine friends thereby releasing all hurts and
pains.pains.
• Victims should turn to God and believe He can make them better.
• Victims should pray to God for forgiveness, guidance and leading of
the Holy Spirit over sin so as to avoid future sin and mistakes that
may incur stigmatization.
• Victims should always meditate on God’s word, and belief in what
God say about them and not what people say.
• Stigmatizers should pray and care for their victims, stop spreading
the bad news instead take the person to God in prayers for total
repentance and pardon.

32. Epilogue
Life is full of challenges, if you live on this planet
earth without some form of challenges, trials
and temptations, then there is something
wrong with you. You must strive to survivewrong with you. You must strive to survive
even though we have everything at our
disposal.
Say yes to life and live, say no to depression and
pain and succeed in life.
God bless you as you stand firm to do what is
right, at the right time and place. Amen.

33. Joyce Adah M.
Joyce Adah M. Is a believing Chris
tian by the grace of God and a lad
y of everybody.
She sings, write Counsel and teach.
Adah is passionate about youth work and life
coaching thus reaching out to both old and
young, female and male alike and all race, relig
ion and colour.
Adah is a member of Deeper Christian Life
Ministry, Fellowship of Christian Students,
Awesome Tracers Crew.
She is heavenly minded and so encourage
every one to aim at settling in heaven after life
on earth.