[palemoss]

It is so sad and astounding how heartless and apathetic people can be once they either find out you suffer from mental illness or have a crazy spell (which you apologize sincerely for!).

YOU'RE WRITTEN OFF.

It's like we're no longer human because of what we suffer from. I am sorry for letting stress and sensitivity affect me so much! I didn't have a happy playful childhood off of tv movies...

I feel this way because of my own personal experiences and after watching the new HBO series, "Enlightened" I am once again reminded how the so-called "normals" can ostracize, shun, and dehumanize you with their lack of understanding and compassion.

[Ygrec23]

Yes, palemoss, it's true: lots of people are afraid of MI and think it's catching. So they rule you out. But in my experience that still leaves a whole lot of other normal people who will do no such thing. They'll be your friends and companions despite whatever you're suffering from. I don't know your exact situation, whether you feel EVERYONE is doing this or only some people. I think it's only some people. You can't let the bad ones get you down. There are always people one will rub the wrong way. Even if you're 100% normal.

Me, I try as hard as I can to hide it when I go out. When I mingle with the mob. I pretend I'm an actor in a play and my part is "being normal." I can do a pretty good imitation of that if I try hard enough. But I do have to put my mind to it. Serious work.

We don't get HBO so I haven't seen those shows. But I have no doubt that they're interesting. At the same time, keep in mind that television almost never (and I wonder about that "almost") portrays reality correctly. Reality is a whole lot less dramatic and entertaining than TV has to be to attract an audience. Even "reality" shows aren't real. They're too "concentrated," focussed on very small, specific situations over and over and over.

Well, I hope you feel better. Do you have a T? Are you on meds? Do you have any friends or family? These things can help. Take care!

Originally Posted by palemoss

It is so sad and astounding how heartless and apathetic people can be once they either find out you suffer from mental illness or have a crazy spell (which you apologize sincerely for!).

YOU'RE WRITTEN OFF.

It's like we're no longer human because of what we suffer from. I am sorry for letting stress and sensitivity affect me so much! I didn't have a happy playful childhood off of tv movies...

I feel this way because of my own personal experiences and after watching the new HBO series, "Enlightened" I am once again reminded how the so-called "normals" can ostracize, shun, and dehumanize you with their lack of understanding and compassion.

[Gus1234U]

i too notice that bigotry is alive and well. and it loves to target psychiatric symptoms, diagnoses, and their owners. it also loves to hate fat, ugly, stupid, outsider, different and succorless. one of the great secrets to happiness is in not giving energy to wanting to be loved nor hating to be hated. find your inner peace, and bigots will not be such a bother, is what i have learned. best wishes, Gus

[Detach]

Yes, people judge and can say mean things, but much of it is from pure ignorance! Many people don't understand MI let alone BP and they don't want to know as well. I don't tell many people unless they are close to me, but recently I had to tell my boss and human resources, because I was out on disability for awhile. Now that I'm back to work they don't treat me any different which I appreciate.

However, lately I've had to train a new nurse and one of our patients had BP and she went on and on how she didn't want to see this "crazy" patient. I told her we are seeing her for pneumonia, why are you judging someone you haven't even seen yet? She said "I don't know?' and it ended at that. So, even the medical professionals can be ignorant.

[Inedible]

Religion really isn't my thing. I tend to believe, however, that people like Jesus and Buddha were exceptions to the rule that we all have mental illness to some extent. They were exceptions to the rule and they were the ones most completely rejected. At least Buddha got to die in old age of food poisoning rather than hours of literal torture, and the guy who gave him bad food didn't mean to. Getting back to the rest of us, it can be an unpleasant reminder to see in other people what we dislike about ourselves. If we didn't have a touch of something on the inside it wouldn't bother us to see it around us. It has resonance. Or maybe you could just say it has a triggering effect.

For what it is worth, though, leprosy is still the actual modern day leprosy. It isn't gone yet.

Originally Posted by http://www.who.int/lep/en/

According to official reports received during 2011 from 130 countries and territories, the global registered prevalence of leprosy at the beginning of 2011 stood at 192,246 cases, while the number of new cases detected during 2010 was 228,474 (excluding the small number of cases in Europe).

[Seaswept]

I hate when people start talking about someone with Bipolar (they are unaware of the fact that I have it) and they go on and on and talking about how bad or crazy the person is.

I'm just standing there wanting to scream out "I'M ONE OF THEM WE ARE NOT EVIL".

People usually hear one-sided stories on the news- murders rape and MI. Millions of people are afflicted by this disorder and we are just trying to live a normal life.

It's not all black and white- normal or not normal- like a lot out there seem to think.

[Detach]

Originally Posted by Seaswept

I hate when people start talking about someone with Bipolar (they are unaware of the fact that I have it) and they go on and on and talking about how bad or crazy the person is.

I'm just standing there wanting to scream out "I'M ONE OF THEM WE ARE NOT EVIL".

Yep, as a nurse I have to hear other nurses who are unaware that I have BP discuss their disdain for people with MI and I sit there trying to hold back from smacking them.

[nacht]

It makes me really mad when people who have MI are reduced to their disorder, or treated like they're stupid or dangerous. In one instance one of my coworkers at my last job (child care) started talking about how it should be against the law for mentally ill people to teach, because they had no business being around children. I was hurt but I had no idea what to say, since no one knew about me other than my immediate supervisor. All I could think to do was change the subject.

I mean really. Have some respect. I don't talk about people with Alzheimer's like they're stupid, I don't treat cancer like it's catching.

For what it is worth, though, leprosy is still the actual modern day leprosy. It isn't gone yet.

LOL. Very true.

[Gus1234U]

i have to agree with Inedible, we are all raised in a bigoted society , and when i got a psych diagnosis/disability, i hated it just as much as any one ever could, it was horrible, despicable, and worse, it had me~. it took a long time to accept that i was injured/damaged and to grieve, and move on. but i will say, it is worth all the pain, to get past that. best wishes, Gus

[roads]

I think that depression somehow escapes the bias, though. Maybe because PCPs prescribe for--no pdoc required--and of course it's so prevalent. Almost like, if you're not depressed, what's wrong with you?

[Sheba976]

It's funny how people will sympathize with those with cancer (a life-threatening illness) but not those with mental Illness. I think it's because they know cancer could happen to them but they assume mental illness will never effect them. I am also in the medical field and I've heard some horrible words said about patients. I work for a cardiologist doing echocardiograms and stress tests. I see a lot of patients with anxiety and other MI's. I've gotten to know the medications so I usually know ahead of time. I always try to take special care of these people. Most are anxious and upset when they come in, and I go out of my way to make sure they leave the office happy. I've had people cry in arms and let all their feelings out. I usually let them I've been in their shoes and it will be alright. I treat everyone with respect no matter what age, social status, weight, gender, etc. We have some horrible nurses who judge everyone for everything. It must be difficult to be them for being so perfect.

[Ygrec23]

Originally Posted by roadrunnerbeepbeep

I think that depression somehow escapes the bias, though. Maybe because PCPs prescribe for--no pdoc required--and of course it's so prevalent. Almost like, if you're not depressed, what's wrong with you?

I have the feeling (I could well be wrong) that depression has received so much coverage in the media for such a long time that it is no longer perceived as "alien" by most normal Americans. Not to mention the fact that many people who are not clinically depressed do feel "down" or "miserable" with some frequency. It's the other mental illness labels that strike most normal people as weird in some way, different, "other."

I do think this is all part of a very slowly changing picture with the direction of change being always towards greater comprehension and acceptance. Is that a Pollyanna view? I really don't think so. If you go back and trace the history of the treatment of mentally ill people over the past four hundred years you'll find, I believe, real improvements not only in treatment but in acceptance. I entirely agree that it's all too slow a process, really of no use to people suffering "now," whether "now" is today or a hundred or fifty years ago. But I do think it's happening and will continue to get better in the future.

Why? Because in this sense, not only for mental illness but for every condition that separates people from each other, we're constantly moving together, closing the gaps between us, becoming more and more aware of our similarities (which have been there for the whole life of our species). There was a time, not all that long ago in historical terms, when Western people like ourselves couldn't feel the slightest relation to Chinese or (East) Indian people. They simply felt too different.

As the Chinese and Indians begin their "embourgeoisement" (middleclassification) through the development of their economies, as they begin consuming more and more like you and me, they stop appearing so different from us. It's easier for us to understand that they're our brothers and sisters (which, in reality, they've always been). And as the human race slowly awakens to its solidarity, the mentally ill (and the otherwise disabled) are included. It's a general movement. And like general movements in general, there are laggards and avant-gardes, hold-overs from the past and fore-runners of the future.

People do say I'm crazy (you ever heard that?), but I really do believe that the human race has a very bright and fascinating future ahead of it. Want to challenge me on that? Go right ahead! Be my guest! Love it!

[venusss]

For what it is worth, though, leprosy is still the actual modern day leprosy. It isn't gone yet.

Yes.

And as much as bipolar is terrible, it can be hidden pretty well. It can be managed. It is not leprosy.

As much as it ****ing hurts at times, being bipolar in first world country is not the worst thing that can happen to a human. It is a livable condition, as much as it often does not feel like it at times.

I don't think it is just MI (I don't consider it illness... scar on soul? Real extreme quirk? Maybe.........). It is different religion, different lifestyle... our society here in west is not as tolerant as we like to claim we are. Europe is still ****ing racist and prejudiced. If you stand out, you are gonna get it. Hard.

For my bipolar is just a component of me "differentness", so to be honest, I don't know what is the most problematic aspect. My politics, sexuality, spirituality and general stance of life... it is already extreme. Add extremities of emotions and sometimes reactions to life... yeah, good luck living with that.

I try not to be too bitter with the world though. I am not even into campaigning about how am I not different... because to be honest, I am different....

[dejavu65]

Originally Posted by Ygrec23

I have the feeling (I could well be wrong) that depression has received so much coverage in the media for such a long time that it is no longer perceived as "alien" by most normal Americans. Not to mention the fact that many people who are not clinically depressed do feel "down" or "miserable" with some frequency. It's the other mental illness labels that strike most normal people as weird in some way, different, "other."

I agree with you on this. But I also believe that depression is now accepted because people are using the term at the drop of a hat. Like "I am so depressed because I burned the roast we were going to have for dinner." Or "Johnny is so depressed because he is grounded for the weekend." There is a huge difference between Depression and being upset. But depressed and depression have become common terms for describing a mood just like the words happy and sad.

[Secretum]

I'm not criticizing anyone (as I realize that what I am suggesting can be really difficult), but maybe it would be a good idea for us to model a nonjudgmental attitude towards MI when people (who don't know that we have bp) make ignorant comments. For example, those who work in the health field could challenge their colleague's prejudiced remarks about a patient with MI with questions and facts. "Why are you afraid of this patient? Less than 1% of people with MI are violent towards others", and "1 in 4 Americans suffers from a mental disorder. Do you really hate an entire quarter of the population so much?" are examples of things you could say back to them. As long as we stay silent, the ignorance will persist, along with the cruel attitudes and words that stem from it.

Yeah, I agree that depression is accepted more because it is more common. I also think that part of it is due to the fact that most people don't know about psychotic depression. Psychosis scares people who don't understand that breaks from reality are not constant, can be recovered from, and don't often entail violence against others. This may be part of why schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (I think most neurotypicals think of psychotic mania when they think of bp) attract so much prejudice from ignorant people.

Venus, I understand your point. Most of the time, we should be grateful for having food, water, shelter, and political stability. But when depression gets so intense that we would honestly rather die than continue, I believe that we are worse off than those dying of starvation. I'd rather feel physical pain than psychological pain, and I'd rather die a physical death than a psychological one. And if I had to define serious depression, I'd call it a living death.

[Detach]

Originally Posted by Secretum

For example, those who work in the health field could challenge their colleague's prejudiced remarks about a patient with MI with questions and facts.

Are you referring to me?
If you are my response is that I only new this new nurse for two days when she made her comment that our BP patient was crazy and I had just come off of a 2 month medical leave do to BP, so I wasn't up for a debate regarding the issue. But it's food for thought.

[Secretum]

Dijmart, I didn't mean it as a personal attack! I used health-field situations because both you and Sheba (who does echocardiograms and stress tests) have encountered such medieval attitudes towards MI. Really, I think we should challenge prejudice against MI wherever and whenever we encounter it. Nicely, of course. I understand that your situation was unique since you had just gotten back to work.

[Sheba976]

Originally Posted by Secretum

Dijmart, I didn't mean it as a personal attack! I used health-field situations because both you and Sheba (who does echocardiograms and stress tests) have encountered such medieval attitudes towards MI. Really, I think we should challenge prejudice against MI wherever and whenever we encounter it. Nicely, of course. I understand that your situation was unique since you had just gotten back to work.

Yes you probably are right. Now that I am getting my mental health in order, I have been better at expressing my opinions. Prior, I couldn't say a word that might entice a confrontation without crying. I stood up to a coworker the other day who was treating our front office girls like crap. If I here any more crappy attitudes about patients, I won't be able to keep my mouth shut.

[Moose72]

I get the ignorance, but what really gets me more than thinking I'm insane is just thinking that I'm making it up. that it isn't a disease. that' I'm making excuses. They don't understand the symtpoms and they think I use them to go shopping instead of go to work.

[hanners]

This article (http://kfisackerly.hubpages.com/hub/...ar-Must-Follow) made me laugh, but it's sad that it's so true.

[venusss]

I agree with you on this. But I also believe that depression is now accepted because people are using the term at the drop of a hat. Like "I am so depressed because I burned the roast we were going to have for dinner." Or "Johnny is so depressed because he is grounded for the weekend." There is a huge difference between Depression and being upset. But depressed and depression have become common terms for describing a mood just like the words happy and sad.

I think depression is viewed as less harmless on societal level. You are not challenging its concepts. My manias are notorious for arguing with my textbooks (I study International Relations... and once I written essay manic phase where I rip the whole premise of IR as a field... because post-modernism says we cannot discover the truth).

Manias are where you go out and cause havoc and do things others may not approve of. In depressions you are just... real down and non-functional, which is not good, but not percieved as harmful.

(I see merits in both states for me... but it take lotta willpower to do things.... or not to do thing and I worry about myself sometimes).

Venus, I understand your point. Most of the time, we should be grateful for having food, water, shelter, and political stability. But when depression gets so intense that we would honestly rather die than continue, I believe that we are worse off than those dying of starvation. I'd rather feel physical pain than psychological pain, and I'd rather die a physical death than a psychological one. And if I had to define serious depression, I'd call it a living death.

for me it is just helpful to remind myself that I have it good, I have chance to make something of this life. I know how much depression sucks. Been there just few weeks ago. Regretting each morning I woke up. May slip there again. Right now I feel like I am in some trippy reality show.... but this too shall pass... as much as I complain about fate and life... I have it better than majority of the world. And I don't want to waste this chance on self-pity... because that would lead me only to more misery.

I get the ignorance, but what really gets me more than thinking I'm insane is just thinking that I'm making it up. that it isn't a disease. that' I'm making excuses. They don't understand the symtpoms and they think I use them to go shopping instead of go to work.

the thing is many of us contribute to this stigma... by acting like totaly out of control and scary. Been there done that... Scared few people running to the hills (and I don't even know if I should regret it...). Used my bipolar as excuse of why I can't do living. Yeah... people don't understand. But maybe it is good for us to be pushed a bit.
for example I read about schools in the US can accomodate you with deadlines and stuff... if they did that to me, it would take away the structure and sense of normalcy out of my life. I think to many "getting worse" is that we get wrapped up in our disorder and forget how to do the stuff needed for living. So maybe too much "understanding" can be a bad thing for some.

[horseontheloose]

I'm very sorry you, and all of us, have to deal with being chastised and looked at in a negative way. I just told a "friend" about my PTSD, and didn't even get into the BP part. That person has not contacted me since. I don't like having to explain why I do what I do at times. I have left jobs so I don't have to go into that, and before I do something to get me fired. I've been doing this for years. Now I'm unemployed and trying to talk somebody into hiring me for a less stressful job. I so hope you can find some peace. The people that have responded to you here are caring and understand what you are saying.

[Seaswept]

Moose, I hear you on that one; I needed to borrow some $ from my mom (because our house is in foreclosure and we were moving) mom's ill so my sister is power of attorney- refused to let me borrow the $. She told my husband it was because she thought I was going shoe shopping!

Some how I skipped to another page dingy

[Confusedinomicon]

Originally Posted by VenusHalley

the thing is many of us contribute to this stigma... by acting like totaly out of control and scary. Been there done that... Scared few people running to the hills (and I don't even know if I should regret it...). Used my bipolar as excuse of why I can't do living. Yeah... people don't understand. But maybe it is good for us to be pushed a bit.

I agree with this. Almost every one of my friends know I have bipolar disorder and none of them have really been judgmental towards me. Maybe it is because I don't have a severe version of this disorder??? But it doesn't stop me from living and enjoying life because I know i have as much right as anyone else. For most people, bipolar disorder doesn't mean you life is coming to an end. (Maybe I am too young and disillusioned, don't know anything about the real world..)

When you spend too much time internalizing the disorder, then it is easier to live out the 'stereotype'.

[Seaswept]

Originally Posted by hanners

This article (http://kfisackerly.hubpages.com/hub/...ar-Must-Follow) made me laugh, but it's sad that it's so true.

I read the article and it mad me crack up, except for revenge I don't think I project that but I feel exactly like what was written almost all of the time!

I made a copy of it and left it on the kitchen counter, if someone in my family reads it I was hoping they'd get it and know it was a joke but somehow I don't think they'll get it at all.

For me, with 3 teenagers, its definately-- (can't spell ((over 40)) ), all my fault -EVERYTHING and when I ask them to finish a chore or whatever 3 or more times and they ignore me or just don't do it, I yell at them- OH NO, Mom's FREAKING OUT and they go tell their dad who believes them and takes their side. Sometimes I just want to leave. For good.