I'm officially diagnosed "Bipolar I." I live in a small town. I've been declared "Schizophrenic" by consensus.

My problem isn't that I'm labeled Schizophrenic. Psychosis is a part of my life now and then, so whatever; no big deal. The problem is the 'Schizophrenia' is a social role, one in which you're expected to live in poverty and isolation and do what the mental health people say to do, because, well you're "Schizophrenic." Its using diagnosis as a weapon.

In truth, I think my problems are probably best described by Schizoaffective, but since I'm high(ish) functioning, the experts go for bipolar. Thing is, I'm high(er) functioning because of my faith and because of my loving, kind, generous people, who have poured into me to get me up and running.

There are no magic pills for poverty and oppression. But the government wants to pretend that society is honky dory and we're just crippled by brain diseases, so we get not enough to live on, a little too much to die, plus over priced pharmaceuticals.

Ugh. I'm done venting now. This is an interesting thread, btw.