Quote:
Originally Posted by sonotony
...I just feel that putting a bipolar person in a 12 step program just adds to the stigma that we have done something wrong to deserve our mental illness...
In AA circles, when people do not recover, it is because they are not "working the program" or because of some other personal failure. If a bipolar person does not get better, it should in no way be taken personally. The problem with applying a 12 step philosophy is that forcing you to take responsibility for your setbacks is central to the program. I have a disorder that is 0% my fault, so what good does a program like this do except make me feel guilty about it?
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Exactly. Are people who have inherited other afflictions supposed to feel guilty about it? People would be outraged at such an idea, yet somehow, because our affliction is mental, we should??? How's
that work?!
Besides, how many of us have beat ourselves up for years and years trying to overcome these "character defects" and failing? Self-flagellating, thinking we just must not be "trying hard enough". When others keep telling us that that's what our "problem" is (and if we don't know it isn't) there's nothing BUT feeling guilty for our "failings" and "shortcomings"! So yeah, think we've got that one covered in spades all by ourselves. There's certainly no need for additional "help" in the guilt department(!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by hamster-bamster
(H-B: bp does not have to have anything to do with morality)...
(H-B: ...implies that bipolar symptomatology is a "wrong" whose "exact nature" can be discovered; a lot of assumptions here)...
(H-B: bp is not a defect of character)...
(H-B: it is not necessary to think of bp symptomatology as a list of shortcomings.
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Can I hear an amen?
