My Support Forums - View Single Post - I Wish that People were more understanding!!

The Crazy Rambler · May 09, 2010, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FeelingSad

I wish more people were understanding and compassionate towards mental illness. I dont suffer from one but know family who do. Its hard enough for them without people telling them its in their head.Grr!! Im so frustrated with people who dont try and understand.

Thank you for understanding this!
Yes, we are being stigmatized...
Educating people around us as much we can is an important part in raising awareness of what a mental illness is/can be and what it does/can do with a person. I think people find it scary, as they simply don't know what it means and are unsure as to how to treat that person now they know something is amiss (i their eyes, I like to say: different).

I had people in my direct circle say: right, how come you now suddenly are diagnosed?!?! No questons directed at me, or even trying to read about it, which is so esy nowadays with the internet. You don't even need to read much to get some bsic understanding. I was severely disappointed. But then I had some close friends say: oh, well, that's just the way you are and that's okay. Nothing really changed for them, other that that it now has a name. I have educated them adn we can talk about it and they are the ones that notice when things are getting out of hand one way or another. That is awesome, but it's only a few people. I have trouble building a support network...

As far as bipolar is concerned: it can have a genetic component, where someone has a predisposition to develp it. It is a chemical imbalance in the brain. Something you can compare it to is diabetis where there is an imbalance too.
It is true that there are no tests for mental illnesses, but if you look more into the field of neuro science, there is brain research that shows that the brain of someone with bipolar looks different that the brain of a so called normal person. They are working on new ways to treat depression in the brain instead of the electro convulsion therapy, where the whole brain is treated. there are ways to pin point where the part is where the depression is situated and treat specifically that part. Unfortunately, for us bipolars, our brains are a tad more complicated. So it will take time before something like that is developed for us. But the good news is still that researchers are working on it.
But as with all things: if someone doesn't want to know, it is useless to try and share any info with them. And in my opinion: they are not worth the efford, nor my friendship!