[UCMATH]

I'm in the process of finding a new therapist, so I'm gonna use this post to rant for a moment.

My cousin, who has Bipolar 1, was arrested for burglary a few days ago. His mentally ill wife had to come up with the money to bail him out. My house mate, who has recurrent Major Depression, cracked a joke about him getting raped in prison because he's very attractive.

I'm a rape survivor. I think rape jokes are in poor taste, and that's exactly what I told her. She's been in an irritable depression and completely overreacted. I wasn't trying to offend her, but she acted like I had made a personal attack on her. She thinks I was trying to start a fight with her.

I'm basically tired of being around mentally ill family members and friends who refuse to take their medication and attend therapy because they don't think they need it.

I'm so glad that I got that out.

[Travelinglady]

You're welcome. Feel free to rant. You have a reason to! "Crazy" people can drive other people "crazier"!

[hamster-bamster]

Did she know that you are a rape survivor before making the joke? If so, she should have shown better judgment...

[UCMATH]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

Did she know that you are a rape survivor before making the joke? If so, she should have shown better judgment...

Yes, she did. Perhaps it slipped her mind. She probably wasn't even thinking about it.

I think I might try to discuss it with her once she calms down. But she hasn't been taking her meds, so she becomes angry very easily.

I want to ask her to go back to a psychiatrist, but it'll just upset her. She hasn't been to one since she was at Duke quite a few years ago. Both of her daughters have asked her to go, but she won't listen.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by UCMATH

Yes, she did. Perhaps it slipped her mind. She probably wasn't even thinking about it.

I think I might try to discuss it with her once she calms down. But she hasn't been taking her meds, so she becomes angry very easily.

I want to ask her to go back to a psychiatrist, but it'll just upset her. She hasn't been to one since she was at Duke quite a few years ago. Both of her daughters have asked her to go, but she won't listen.

Don't ask her to go back to a psychiatrist, but do ask her to abstain from rape jokes in your presence.

[UCMATH]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

Don't ask her to go back to a psychiatrist, but do ask her to abstain from rape jokes in your presence.

Thanks! That's probably really good advice.

How would you go about getting a depressed friend to go back on meds without flat-out telling them to go to the doctor? Should I just leave it alone and hope she decides to go on her own?

As long as it is affecting you so strongly, why don't you consider talking to your
new therapist about the possibility of moving and getting away from the disorder?
Remaining in the presence of those who are refusing meds or treatment doesn't do
much to help your condition, does it?

I'd be out of there as quickly as I could get out.

Poor taste to say the least, UCMATH! Wow!

i'm sorry that she had to use that joke.

with me.. it's the other way round- sick of normal people who don't take us serious enough

but do keep on ranting... ranting's healthy

[faerie_moon_x]

Oh, I know exactly what you mean about no being appreciative of people using things like that as jokes. One thing that really, really gets on my nerves is when someone is stressed out, they will say something like, "OMG, I'm going to kill myself!" or "I should just kill myself!"

Being a real life survivor of sucidal thoughts and actions, I just don't like those things being taken so lightly. I feel there is very little support for those who do suffer from suicidal thoughts, in that so many people see it as "attention seeking," and I think using those off-handed terms is just wrong.

So, hugs to you. Rant as much as you need. That's what we're here for.

And yes, having more than one person with bipolar in the house can be quite an interesting ride at times. My mother-in-law lives with me and she has bipolar 1. And, sometimes I think we cycle shift together in just the right way and just the right sparks fly.