When people with mental health conditions become aware of the stereotypes attributed to them , they internalize them and make them their own , increasing the likelihood that they will see themselves according to these false beliefs. Thus, to all the barriers imposed by stigma, we can add those imposed by oneself as a result of self-stigma.

Furthermore, these individuals expect to conform to socially attributed characteristics, and to achieve this, they tend to overinterpret their behaviors and actions. In other words, self-stigma leads people to pathologize some of their behaviors by considering them exceptional or outside the norm. The influence of family and friends can play a key role in reinforcing self-stigma.