hate that people use the term bipolar so loosely

Even before I was diagnosed it bothered me.

the weather is being bipolar.
I think she's bipolar.
why are you acting so bipolar today.
someone's having a bipolar moment.

people use it so loosely and if you ask them to explain bipolar disorder to you they can't even touch the surface of it. I don't ever say anything but I find it to be insulting and ignorant. I know there are plenty more of you in this boat with me.

I feel exactly the same way when people self-diagnose OCD. Just because you want it your way and you want it now doesn't mean that you are tortured by intrusive thoughts and forced to follow rituals and lose sleep because you have to get up and rearrange your refrigerator because your husband didn't put the juice back in alphabetical order. They say, "Oh, I left my lucky pen in the car. There's my OCD again." And everybody laughs and you feel like crawling under the table, because you're the only one who is not laughing. And while you're down there you're counting the floor tiles, the cracks in the floor tiles, and the scuff marks on the floor tiles praying they come out to a multiple of 6.

I am not BP and I'm sorry that you are.

From my heart to yours, L

People say Bipolar like it's some kind of joke.They have no idea how difficult it is to really live with it.I sometimes wish I never had it,but when I have hypermania I do love it.Manic and depression you can keep,both of them have almost destroyed my life at times.I have been labeled bipolar since the early 80'sand the Pdocs figure I started bipolar in the 70's.On new meds for about a month,Fetzima80mg and Quetiapine200mg.,so far so good

Yup, I hate when people do that too and also with any other mental illnesses like when people misuse depression as a synonym for unhappiness. I mean imagine if someone ate a bunch of candy and said something ignorant like "omg I feel so diabetic now" they'd get weird looks. It's socially acceptable to treat mental illness as if it's no big deal so they think they can get away with saying ignorant things.

I used to get mad when an older friend talked about his "crazy" wife (she was schizophrenic). I complained to another friend and he said to me: he is not talking about you, so it stopped bugging me.

I have a friend now who says things like "she is so bipolar". Now I am more amused by this because I never told her I am bipolar and I must not come off as "bipolar", I hope.

Yea when it comes to physical ailments like cancer or diabetes people understand and have sympathy. but when it comes to any mental disorder they don't care. I can't help that the chemical in my grainy just aren't level. just as much as a cancer patient can't help that unhealthy cells are attacking their healthy cells of that a diabetic does not produce insulin. its just what the body does and we don't have control over it. if it want a real illness there wouldn't be pdocs or tdocs or hospitals for it. it can be a very lonely feeling at times

People who don't understand it are ignorant. I try not to take it personally, but it is upsetting when the reality of bipolar is horrible and can be debilitating... I once had a friend who's brother made a joke about me - his mum Asked how I was going, and the brother answered, 'oh, up and down'. It wasn't funny. It just goes to show that people are ignorant...

Oh, yeah, I know what you mean! I hate it too. I almost wish people would still use the term, "manic Depressive" like they used to so that peopel would take it more seriously.

I feel the same way about people who use the term "depression" loosely. I was in an AA meeting yesterday and the topic(s) were despair and depression. So many people shared about their experiencing depression, but I think they were talking about transitory sadness. I felt like saying, "You guys have no idea what depression really is," but I kept my mouth shut. I'm living severe depression today; they're not.

Hi can I ask why it bothers you so much.
I find I have so much more to worry about, being bipolar myself I don't really
Care what uninformed people call the weather, or how they use the word.
I just try to live my life the best way I can, being bipolar is hard enough without worring about how other people are using the word.

Naturally, I've got to chirp up here. I feel quite differently than most of you in that I think it's quite amusing when others describe something (e.g. the weather) or another person as behaving "bipolar." Certainly they are ignorant of the use of the term, but hey, publicity is publicity. Years ago, bipolar disorder (formerly manic-depressive illness) was regarded much like tuberculosis. The mere reference to, or mention of the illness, seemed to create a fear that they themselves too might become demon-possessed. But today, the use of the expression "bipolar" is often humorous, harmless, and engaging. When my girlfriend asks me "how's your mood today?" - I often reply, "like the weather, it's sunny now, but a thunderhead is approaching."

People trivialise bipolar, even on this forum. Many people go through normal mood fluctuations yet blame them on bipolar as soon as they make a mistake or need an excuse for their stupid behaviour. That annoys me way more than people who use it in a lighthearted joking matter.

There are many of us who really do suffer. And to have someone with a mild mood fluctuation say that they are bipolar is a kick in the teeth to those that have real problems.

Just as many people have no concept of how their own brain or body funtion, many have no concept of what BP is. The average IQ in this country is shockingly low and ignorant people will trivialize anything.
Common knowledge and common sense go hand in hand with pushing people out of high school who can only read at a fifth grade level. We live in the most affulent country in the world, yet care for the homeless ad the mentally ill is at a very low priority. So those who brains consist of 75% air should be ignored and pitied for the sparkless drones thy are who will mock anyone to get a laugh.

It bothers me when people use the term Bipolar incorrectly because when it comes time to tell someone about my disorder (Which is scary enough) I have to fight a stigma in addition to the other butt load of stuff I have to explain about the disorder. Also because the incorrect use feels like it mocks the disorder and its severity, something that I have to endue everyday isn't very funny, so I do not think it belongs at the butt of a joke.

yeah.... i've heard it a lot.

especially in reguards to the weather

oh, the weather is so bipolar!. that's just annoying

Yeah. I joke often about my cats being bipolar (they either sleep like dead or are really hyper, they are promiscous at time, they abuse drugs (my valerian and catnip too).

I have more issue with "oh your boyfriend is only abusive cause he didn't find the right meds yet, that is what bipolar does" and such.

I agree. And, as other people have said, it's really annoying when people use OCD and depression incorrectly too.

Got NEWS FOR EVERYONE WHO OWNS A CAT OR CATS - the research evidence is in, all cats ARE BIPOLAR!

I was at a dinner with family recently and a family friend was introduced to me. He asked, about my meeting my husband (of 8 years), "did he warn you about all the mental illness in his family?" He then proceeded to laugh at his "joke," as did several at the table who don't know about my mental illness. For me and those who know, it was plain awkward. How insulting! And, it does also bug me when people use bipolar lightly! They have no idea what they are saying.

The worst I heard is "moody" when it may entail a thyroid disorder, energy levels, etc.

I totally agree. I am so surprised at the plain stupidity from first world countries. That is a bigger problem than mental illness, increase the education and I bet there would be a whole lot less "mental illness" some people are just plain dumb and using mental illness is such a cop out and in insult to those that have serious issues. It in turn tars us with the same brush. Stupidity and mental illness are not the same thing.

Thats another thing that gets me. Accepting abuse because of a mental health problem. Yes you might do damage during a mood fluctuation, but you can also apologise and make up for things you have done. Many just blame it on mental illness and get upset when not everyone will just accept their bad behaviour.

We all act badly from time to time, it is just part of being human. Its how we make amends for our behaviour and take steps to ensure we dont do it again, that is the real measure of what kind of person we are. Too many people blame it on mental illness then wonder why they dont have a support network...