In our newspaper there is an abundance of criminals being called "bipolar." So the guy that shot the police officer & his wife was identified as "bipolar." Many other crimes being blamed on bipolar so there is such a stigma. They don't mention if the person was off his meds. I don't reveal that I'm bipolar to anyone I don't absolutely have to for fear they will think I'm dangerous.

There is such a stigma that when I went to get an ultrasound on my kidney because my creitine (sp?) level was too high on lithium (at a therapeutic dose) & the doc wanted to rule out any growths on the kidney, the lady who was doing the procedure asked why I was getting it done. I said the I'm having that reaction to some medication & the doc wanted to make sure something else wasn't going on. She asked what medication, & when I said "lithium" her who demeanor changed & she started acting like I needed to be continuously placated (so I wouldn't sit up & strangle her?) & then she practically ran out of the room when she was finished.

Also, when I told my ob/gyn of my dx he also started acting differently & rushed through my exam. And these are medical personnel who should be educated about mental illnesses!

But some good news--the Mental Health America (formerly the Mental Health Assoc.) director in our county has bipolar & is leading seminars for police officers to try to identify when someone has a mental illness & how to approach them. She reveals her dx so the officers can see a person who is functioning at a high level with the disorder & hopes to reduce the stigma.--Suzy