[TgrsPurr]

Ive been diagnosed with bp for quite some time now and the people closest to me know this....
But what really gets my blood boiling is when somethings wrong...circumstantial, a bad day, disagreements with said ppl, etc..etc...etc..
And the first thing out of their mouth is always "have you taken your meds today?" It's bloody infuriating. As if, ppl with bp have no normal legitimate reasons to get angry, agitated, frustrated or really happy about something. It seems that our disorder ceases to validate any real emotions and responses without it being born out of bp.
I'v tried the best I can to educate ppl about bp and it's scientific origins and the resulting behavior, but they use this as a catch all for everything I do, say and feel.
I could give case after case of this very infraction...but that is neither here nor there. I just find this to be very dehumanizing, insensitive and insulting as though our "feelings" aren't "real". This couldn't be further from the truth.

I've tried the communication route, I've tried the education route, I've offered to put them in touch with my pdoc who is a specialist in chemical imbalances...but they are all dismissed like a piece of toilet paper stuck to the bottom of their shoes.

I realize I'm not super woman, or should I say, super bi-polar woman. But I can't help but feel the desire to make the ppl closest to me understand who and what I am.

I'm sure you all have suggestions and advice and for me. many of it I already know and tried and am tired and exhausted from trying.

So, I on that note, I can put my head on the pillow at night knowing I did the best I could to give these loved ones somewhat of an understanding of what it is to live in my world. The ppl who really care, try hard. The ppl who are too self-absorbed to try to extend themselves just a little to understand those around them better...well...it's not my problem. I am who I am and I cant change that. Self-improvement is the goal of each and everyday of my life...hopefully those loved ones will at least be willing to meet me half way. If not, no skin off my back.

But, getting back to my original point. My mission in my world right now is to educate those ppl that are a part of my daily life, not everything I do say and feel is BP. Apparently a hard concept for some to grasp. But, like like I said...it goes with the territory.
TgrsPurr, xo

doesn't it %#@&#! you off when people think that BP defines WHO you are? i'm frigging fed up with it too!!! xoxoxo pat and i may slap the next person who mentions my meds. i'ts like "is it that time of month, dear?"

[JustBen]

Good luck in this task, I know how hard it must be. Perserverence is my only advice -- but it sounds like you know all about that already.

[TgrsPurr]

How many times does someone with other health afflictions get asked, "have you taken your meds yet today?" Did you take your insulin, did you take your high blood pressure medication, did you take your estrogen, did you take your allergy medication, did you take your nitrogen, did you take your birthcontrol pill today.
I THINK NOT!

Ppl look for any any way to blame a bad mood, an energy boost, a sad day that sometimes makes us cry. We, too, are faced with everyday life situations, circumstances, heartache, heartbreak, stress, financial issues just like every other human being on the face of the planet. But when we emotionally respond to those things it always comes down to "did you take your meds".

My response, appartently there more shallow and ignorant than I thought, so get over yourselves and allow us to be the human beings that you too experience in your everyday life.

that usually shuts 'em up and teaches them a lesson about how life can be just as difficult sometimes for EVERYONE.

Granted, I try to be a little more tactful than that because they'll only turn that around to be my illness too.

I realize that more and more people are becoming more aware of bp and the havoc it wreaks in our lives and the lives of those arouond us. But then butt heads (putting it mildly) like Tom Cruise come out publically state that there's no such thing as chemical imblances and that it's all in our heads and that therapy only masks the real issues. The damage he has done to the mental health community, the disorder community has been a major set-back for those of us who have fought so hard to create an understanding on a scientific and clinical level. I bet that if they made a grow taller pill, he'd be first in line.
For someone who was so private for so long to come out like this makes me think he's get a chemical imbalance of his own.

I'm not going to diss Scientology. If that's what works for those ppl...the more power to them. But to think that they have the answer to every human problem is arrogant, abrasive and demeaning to the rest of society. He claims to be an expert in "psychology", but he shed absolutely no evidence of this "extensive and origin" of every mental health disorder known to man.

While I've never been a Tom Cruise fan, this only affirms that this choice of mine is right on the money.

anyway, I hope I haven't gone too far in expressing my opinions, but I feel quite strongly about this and I've only expressed my personal opinions of his arrogance and superiority complex.

I can only hope that the medical community will come forward and present the truth of this matter. Meds have saved my life, my quality of life and my ability to function productivley in society. My meds have been my life preserver when I was circling the drain into the sewage of bp.

Please fell free to express your views without offending or demeaning anyone else here. However, this is a subjuct I wish to discuss further. so let it rip my friends.
TgrsPurr, xo

[TgrsPurr]

EXACTLY! Right on Pat!

[TgrsPurr]

Input...Pat, Cat, Angie and all others I don't yet know YET!
TgrsPurr, xo

[dexter]

>>For someone who was so private for so long to come out like this makes me think he's get a chemical imbalance of his own.

I've heard that comment from a lot of people. Don't forget that right before his comments he was jumping around on Oprah's couch. To me just the fact that he brought that up in an interview shows something is going on. Why was this issue even on his mind so strongly?

People are idiots. Luckily there are other people talking out about the subject, and more and more knowledge and information available for those who choose to try to gain more understanding.

But for people with closed minds, nothing may ever be enough.

[dogtanian]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
TgrsPurr said:
Ive been diagnosed with bp for quite some time now and the people closest to me know this.... But what really gets my blood boiling is when somethings wrong...circumstantial, a bad day, disagreements with said ppl, etc..etc...etc..
And the first thing out of their mouth is always "have you taken your meds today?" It's bloody infuriating. As if, ppl with bp have no normal legitimate reasons to get angry, agitated, frustrated or really happy about something. It seems that our disorder ceases to validate any real emotions and responses without it being born out of bp.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

hey tiger, i have the same problem with my mother - if i get angry about something, admittedly something that happens quite often, she'll go "are you level? you're not going manic are you?" i can see why she does it, because my hypomania always involves irritability and aggression, but hello - does this mean i can't just be angry sometimes?

i've tried to tell her this and she seems to be getting better, but i know how you feel, and it's really annoying. i hope those close to you begin to realise that this illness doesn't exempt us from normal feelings xx

[dogtanian]

ps: i agree completely about tom cruise. there's a scientology place near my college, they have a thing where outside their shopfront (and it's definitely a shop rather than anything even remotely spiritual), they have a big advert going "FREE STRESS TEST!!!" and they invite you to come in for this test, and presumably they find that everyone is pretty stressed (this is central london, it goes without saying!), and hey presto, they have the miracle cure which involves a chat, a conversion and a large *ahem* "donation".

most of me finds this quite repellent, but every time i walk past (6 times a week, minimum, to and from lectures at uni), a little part of me would *love* to sit down and say "ok, give me the stress test" and then proceed to explain i'm bipolar and so on and ask them how they can justify not believing in mental health issues or psychiatry. i'm pretty sure i could verbally out do them - i'm pretty good at stating my case in a debate - and it wouldn't be an argument, i'd not let my anger get the better of me and would just quietly and firmly wreck all their stupid ideas. well, in theory, anyway - more likely i'd get really angry and yell at them. but...

i'm very very tempted....

[nothemama8]

What fries me is when I'm up and ppl like havin me around cuz I'm fun, then they tell me I have to take a Seroqel just so I can sleep so what if I was up for 4 days on 2 hours sleep
Angie

i am still grateful for my DX. before i was this little harem member, wandering the desert and begging for help. at least now I know what it going on. we just to have to either educate people or slap them.

[JustBen]

It's hard to convince people when they think they already "know". It's weird, but people that have actually bothered to put in some work (serious reading, research, etc.) seem more flexible and less arrogant than those who "know" based on flimsier stuff (personal opinion, something they read in Time Magazine, etc.)