I think the media is increasing the stigma of mental illness by identifying (as they have done in our local paper) a person who commits a horrible crime as bipolar. They don't say if he was not on meds for the condition so I feel really afraid that anyone I work or socialize with would find out I am bipolar. Would they think I might be a ticking time bomb?

I agree with the others who stated that I can be a danger to myself (with suicide attempts), but I have never been a danger to others. But think of Andrea Yates--I don't think she could control her delusions. What if that were to happen to me? I know my mother (who was bp) had scary behaviors & delusions about us kids...but she committed suicide so I don't know how bad she could have gotten. Scary to have the term "mental illness" applied to yourself. Here at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles they ask (when I was renewing my driver's license) if I had been treated for a mental illness. Of course, I said "no" & felt really nervous should the truth come out. So having a mental illness somehow affects whether you get a license or not.--Suzy I definitely think it should disallow you from getting a gun, but someone determined to get a gun just has to lie like I did at the DMV.