I think we're waiting for stigma to change, like it has with some other MI like adhd and depression. Because most people, unless they've seen it or felt it, don't have compassion for bp. Talk to them all you want, and many just want to pretend it is not a real illness, or just they don't want anything to do with it or anyone who has it. Then they'll criticize you for being on meds, or for not being on meds...

The stigma is that a bp person is a monster (not even going into some religious views on bp). The stigma is that the bp person is less than, not worthy, weak, drug-seeking, etc., etc. So many people do hide their symptoms as best they can, staying home from work, avoiding society.

So what do we do? Fight the stigma... ? I'm sure there are ways, there are probably organizations doing that?

Or do we conserve our energy to get through the day to day struggles? That's about all I'm strong enough to do right now... personally... is get through a day and then whoop there's another day to deal with. Oh and then there's the nights too where we sometimes don't sleep, those can be an ordeal.

I'm not sure if this is what you had in mind for the discussion of the stigma related to bp. Maybe you could explain more, what do you think about the subject?

Oh, and like Christy's saying, our perception of how we are being stigmatized absolutely affects our experience with it.