I know, even before I was on meds I'd go for weeks of hypersomnia, my bones and joints aching and I didn't want to get out of bed. When all my tests came back "normal" they suggested my symptoms were in my head. Um...NO...they're in my body. Why can't you just say your brain chemistry may be leading to these physical symptoms? Is there no nice way to put it? Because the pain is real and the fatigue is real. I didn't create it. I didn't say,
"Gee, I think I'll sleep all day long and have sore muscles and joints. That'll be fun. I'll miss work and have to drop out of school AGAIN."

Whatever. We patients ought to write a hand book for new doctors for all of their patients, including the mentally interesting. All the cliches they shouldn't use and terminology that belittles us or makes us feel somehow flawed or lazy or weak for having a genetic disorder compounded by ****ty things that have happened to us. I'm no victim, mind you. I intend to be a success no matter what the cruel or idiotically "devoted" did to me.

What I'm saying is, we should write the pamphlet. For real. One for bipolar people and one for the doctors who sometimes encounter them. We should compile suggestions from everyone on the site. Not sure where we'd post it or have it printed...but it would be cathartic to create it.