Quote:
Originally Posted by Bipolar1Disorder
Yes this is what I had in mind for the discussion and I personally feel that I can not hide my symptoms at times like when I yell and get upset over something that has triggered me. But I am not a celebrity so my actions are interpreted as being crazy, hostile and stigmatized from bipolar 1 disorder which caused it to happen in the first place.
"I knew a socialite whose father was bipolar and she was also. Hers was so severe that friends had to watch over her expressions to make sure she wasn't entering a severe depression. There was no stigma attached to her. She was highly respected and a strong social leader in the church and in the community."
I am not a rich and well educated socialite so anything I do will be stigmatized now according to this view which Genetic brought to the table.
I am starting to see a little clearer now on this subject thanks to all the input here. Thanks guys keep going and we can all learn from this.  |
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No, Bipolar I, you missed the point of my statement about the socialite. (That's one
of the symptoms, I think, in this illness is misunderstanding thoughts at times.)
I was saying simply that the stigma is not associated with all bipolar people.
The truth is that a stigma is relative only where people are either ignorant of the illness, too weak themselves to contribute positively to all of life, or are just naturally unequipped to deal with real life (or have to spend money to assist with employees' medical care, according to my psychiatrist).
The socialite was surrounded by well-educated, experienced people who knew what the illness is and knew how to assist when the depression or manic episodes seemed to be emerging. Her wealth was not the thing that protected her.
There's no reason for you to feel that you will be stigmatized because
you are not wealthy or do not have the support she had. If you are
independent yourself, why would you let the opinions of others affect you so strongly?
Haven't you understood along the way that we should NEVER judge ourselves based on somebody else's opinion of who we are? We have to live by our deepest principles, and that's enough to assist us to live a happy and content life--with meds, as called for.
Good wishes
Genetic