people dont know about the differnt forms of bipolar

when I ask someone what do they know about bipolar they always talk about bipolar 1 and look at you abit ward as to say why arnt you in hospital? and give you that scard look as to say you are totlly nuts!
dose any one else feel like there should be more information to the public about the 4DIFFERNT TYPS of bipolar? and if we as a community can do something about it?.

I agree that when a layman hears about BP they generally think of mania. It isn't fair, but I do believe that they are slowly becoming more educated.
I do feel that people may be over-diagnosed with BP at the moment, but on the pro side, at least it is becoming more common and spoken about

I honestly just avoid talking about it. I usually talk about 'being heavily medicated' or something to the effect of 'I'm a legitimate crazy person'. I've found it makes most people uncomfortable to talk about mental health so they change the subject, or laugh it off as a joke.

In most situations, I won't lie about it if directly asked, but as you pointed out, I feel like I need to explain the differences for like 10 minutes if I tell someone I'm BPII.

Generally, the only people that I tell are people that my behaviors could have a direct affect on. My roommates, the people on my safety list, and sooner or later, I have to tell my boss, but I haven't figured out a way to do that. Kinda scary.

If someone judges me b/c I have an illness, than I tend to think, are they really friends.

Professionals usually ask us right after they learn we're bipolar if we are medicated. After we say "yes" they take a sigh of relieve and say "good". That annoys me. My husband is very open about his diagnosis but he's also a "if they don't like me **** them" type of personality. He is also very open because mental health issues have caused some serious tragedies in his family. He hopes if he's open about it more people will ask for help when they need it. Me on the other hand only tell close friends, close family, and the people I rely on to take care of my son for spur of the moment issues.

I would rather people think it is worse than treat it like a non-issue, like most do with depression. Usually I don't have an issue with people learning I'm bipolar because by the time they learn my dx my behavior is marked off as "Oh, that's just how (my name) is". I did however have to tell my husband to start saying "I" instead of "we" because I'm not comfortable with strangers and acquaintances knowing.

I remember when I was in the hospital for physical reasons they would ask what meds I'm allergic to and lamictle and abilify are on that list. Then they say "why were you taking those?" and then I say, "well, I have bipolar." They just look at me and say, "are you on meds now?" No. "Oh, okay, we'll get the social worker up to see you." Never saw a single hair on her head. >.>

Really, even medical professionals don't understand. I just figure no one understands unless they have it.

I don't ask people what they know about Bipolar. Why? Because I don't care what people think or understand about the illness.

I only have told family and close friends. Even the close friends don't understand, especially, when I have a depressive episode. They seem to think telling me to cheer up will do the trick that tons of psych meds haven't been able to do, or therapy. I'm glad I found PC so I can at least talk about it and be understood by some. It's helpful to have a place to relate to others that understand.

I don't talk to people about it. Most people don't get it, and I'm not equipped to nor do I have a desire to do a whole psychoeducation session with people.

As far as different forms of BP, the whole spectrum theory is still relatively new and certainly lay people won't know anything about it and I suspect even some psychiatrists are still 'purists' in the sense of only diagnosing 'classic' bipolar (I) disorder.

I really don't expect people to get it (except my pdoc and therapist) and I don't blame them; I mean I don't expect friends or aquaintences to go on the internet and do major research, why should they? It's on me to manage the illness the best ways I can, with the professionals who understand it and do their best to help me.

I find that a lot, and it's shocking. I'm a site guide for the world's largest nursing forum (Allnurses.com) and I've been doing a LOT of education on mental illness there in the past year or so. Not only because there's so little understanding of MI outside of psych nurse circles, but because there is probably more stigma in health care than outside of it!

I think I've been able to change it a little bit on the site, because I see much less posting of statements like "MI nurses shouldn't be allowed to practice, they're not safe" and "I work with a bipolar nurse, and she's crazy!!" There's still a long, looooooong way to go, though.

Frankly I couldn't care less if people don't know. Their ignorance isn't my fault nor does it affect me.

My family, including my babygirl knows when I need alone time and that's all the understanding I need irl.

Besides, logically I think like, why would they know anyway? Does bp even affect them?
Only reason I know so much is becoz I have a dx...

Idk much about any illnesses except AIDS (via school and awareness campaigns) and I get the basics of Cancer and Diabetes, simply because I chose to read up on it. There are 100s of illnesses and diseases I know nothing about, So how can I be offended about what other people know or dont know...

I tell everyone I can, I want them to understand the illness and how it affects me. I'm more than happy to be questioned because then I can put them straight.

I really don't expect people to know much about bipolar any more than I expect them to know a lot about other mental illnesses or physical illnesses. I don't feel like 'lay people' are under any obligation to educate themselves and I don't talk about it with most anyone, I don't see the point. They get who they get -me- warts and all, they don't need to know or understand my diagnosis anymore than I need to do research on diabetes because a friend or acquaintance has diabetes (though they can explain to/share with me what they struggle with if they wish). When you think about it, diabetes is very very common and it's a horrendous disease, and yet most people don't know much of anything about it. We all struggle with our stuff. That's my take on it mostly because I don't feel the need to share, if I did, I suppose I'd feel differently.

Also, the conceptualization of bipolar as being on a spectrum is relatively new, in the whole scheme of things, so I wouldn't expect 'lay' people (non-pdocs, etc.) to be familiar with it at this point.

If you feel it would be beneficial for those close to you to understand what you're experiencing better, you have the choice of explaining it to them and/or providing them with links to information if you wish. That might be a good route for you to take. You can do some research and share what you think most describes what you experience and share your own personal experiences with it as well.

Oops, sorry for the double-post (or variation on the same theme), I thought this was a new thread.