Should I be upset by this?

Okay, so my art professor has known something has been going on with me. Especially since when he asked for a doctors' note so he could excuse my absences last semester, what I was able to come up with was one from my therapist.

Yesterday, we had little presentations on our ideas for book covers for whatever novel we chose. I chose "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" because that's the only novel I've read in ages. Anyway when it came my turn to present, he looked over my thumbnail sketches and asked me if I'd ever seen he inside of a mental institution before. Shocked hat he would ask that, I blurted yes. He then proceeded to tell a story about bad experiences his family has had (as they work in such institutions) and how off the wall crazy and dangerous mental patients are.

I'm not really sure what I was feeling (mortified comes to mind, though), but I didn't stop shaking until after I made it back to my dorm. And now I can't get what he said out of my head. I mean this guy was an awesome professor! And now I'm not sure what to feel about him or this event.

I would be upset, first by his question and second by his opinions.

In 2013 we have a black man as president, but people's views on mental illness are still in the dark ages. Even nice, intelligent, educated people.

It is unacceptable, I am not sure what has to happen to change peoples's views.

I am sorry you were subjected to this. Totally unfair and uncalled for.

I agree it was uncalled for. Sounds like he has issues but I wouldn't assume they were with you. Probably triggered by the title of the book you chose. And he has probably only heard the bad tales from his relatives and not about the normal people that have mental health issues. The news media doesn't help us out either. Hopefully, that's all it was. Let it go unless he shows other signs of having a particular problem with you.
Gayle

His reaction was surely wrong, but I think you should talk to him about it, preferably somewhere aside (not during class). This kind of tension is not good, especially when you have BP.

I would probably be upset too. However I agree with Gayle. This is his lack of insight not yours nor is it a refection on you. So try not to let it upset you too much, it doesn't deserve to bring you down. Maybe try not to let it make you too angry with him either. That doesn't usually help much but rather helps the hurt you feel grow as well. You know that saying...kill it will with kindness. Try to offer him understanding in your own mind, and compassion, because that is what we would like as well. One of those practice what you preach things. It will probably help you feel better about this.

You have nothing to feel mortified about, you didn't do anything. I bet if you talked to him about it he would be the one feeling embarrased. Who knows what he even meant by that, maybe he was concerned that you may have been exposed to dangerous people there or was concerned about your experience there and just went about expressing that in an akward mannor that came out wrong.



Even teachers need to be lead sometimes. If you do talk to him I would try to stay calm, thats one way to break stigma and shows that we are all not off the wall and dangerous. Anger might only confirm what he might already believe. People are more prone to actually listen to what you say when you remain calm. Even tho it isn't always easy to do so.

Was this in front of the whole class or just in front of you?

I'd be super upset by him making that comment. I would educate him on how incorrect he is and that he's perpetuating stereotypes by talking like that. I would also remind him that he's a professor, and that he cannot be aware of the background of his students nor their families and that he should really be more sensitive to possible issues as he is in a position of power.

You don't have to tell him that you have bipolar or anything at all like that; you don't have to self-disclose at all. You can just tell him that as it was your presentation that spawned his insensitive remarks that you feel you had a responsibility to your classmates to set him straight.

At least then you could have a bit of your say to him and hopefully he can (somewhat) redeem himself in his response to you.

I'm with Red Panda...He needs to know how his words affect others.

Just make sure you ask him for a brief meeting outside of class. Make sure you approach him when he has time scheduled for you so he will be ready and *hopefully* receptive.

Most professors have posted office hours. It might be good to talk to him then, alone, where you won't be interrupted. It may be that he was just referring to book, or that he doesn't believe the stories he has been told. He may not be connecting this with you personally at all - just because you were in one doesn't mean you were the patient.

I say this because my husband was a tenured professor for years before going into administration. I could see him saying something like that and have no clue that you had a note from a T in the past, remembering nothing of it.

I hope the professor realizes what he said and how it was taken and apologies.

The problem is his, not yours. It is exactly the same as if he had asked you if you have ever driven a car and then proceeded to tell you car horror stories. It's an ignorant and self-serving answer.

Don't carry his behavior with you. Let it roll off of you. Chalk it up to a lack of empathy and move on.

If you're going to be uncomfortable around him, you have two choices. You can let it go or you can talk to him about it. If you talk to him and he's a decent human being, he will apologize for his unthinking actions and you can both move on. If he gets defensive or belittles your concern, you will have to choose whether you can continue to be around him or if you will be able to understand that he is a small person and deal with him on that basis.

So sorry this happened, this has happened several time to me by professors. I've been "called" out both private and publicly.

Please go into his office and tell him that his question shocked you into saying personal information that you did not want to share and his story really bothered you. Do not tell him your Dx'd or anything. If he asks why you were hospitalized tell him you were having a difficult time and you were hospitalized.

I honestly think that he meant it to be a conversation about the topic of the book cover you chose and has a negative opinion of the topic.

Thanks, all. I will go talk to him on monday. I definitely feel better about it after reading your responses.

You don't have to let him know you were a patient at the hospital... He asked if you've seen the inside, you said yes. Why not let him think you were visiting someone instead?

I agree about talking to him though, clearing the air will make class easier to contend with.