I am/was active in a positive, forward looking political group, since January 2014. Two things set me off on an anger tangent. One, there is too much technology involved. When I ask someone a question, usually that person will say, "That was posted on the listserv" or refer me to another group. Then someone at the other group will refer me to some computer/internet program, which I (1) can't figure out, (2) have no intention of learning. Also, someone in my group lost four lists of interested people who signed up for more information at tabling events. I sounded off about these things to our local listserv. Four people got on my case about this. I have no intention of declaring to this group that I'm disabled with bipolar. There are two people in the group who have made comments that imply to me that they "don't believe in psychoactive medication." They think it's a government plot to dumb everybody down. My therp has advised me to take time off from the group. But people want me to come back. I'm so embarrassed by the "call outs" from these four people that I don't know what to do. I am justifying myself -- to them as well as myself -- that sometimes people have emotions, and that others need to have compassion, rather than to condemn. Anybody got any ideas for me? It's the only political group that interests me, and I strongly support what they do.

I tried political activism in the late 1990s and i was dismayed to find that despite being left wing orgs, they were not welcoming re my bipolar. They were just as backward as the gen pop.

Years later, after i had abandoned political activism, a friend pointed out that it was because not all the people involved were having their basic needs met and they were acting out. Could be.

Originally Posted by apfei

I tried political activism in the late 1990s and i was dismayed to find that despite being left wing orgs, they were not welcoming re my bipolar. They were just as backward as the gen pop.

Years later, after i had abandoned political activism, a friend pointed out that it was because not all the people involved were having their basic needs met and they were acting out. Could be.

Greetings, apfei, and thanks A LOT for posting on my thread. Yes, it's pretty darn sad about the political left being so ignorant and unfeeling about mental illness. I was in a group of single progressives years ago. There were two very mentally ill people who started coming and disrupting the meetings. Very delusional people, monopolizing conversations and stuff. I recommended that the group work with them to try to arrange some sort of workable communication. But there was no interest in doing that! I found that very odd, considering that social programs, including for example mental health programs vs jails, etc, are promoted more by the political left than the political right. The group I am/was active in is neither left nor right, but includes people who want to work together on local environmental and health issues. I wrote to one of my critics (who keeps inviting me back) that good communication uses "I messages," and not "You messages." I gave him some examples of how to use the "I messages" vs "you messages." I know I'll get a response, but have no idea what he'll say to these suggestions. IF I go back, which is doubtful at this point even though I have plenty of friends in the group, there needs to be a discussion about "I messages" and learning to handle strong emotions. The thing is, we are told by various members (1) not to post on the listserv if we are upset about something; (2) that showing impatience, etc, is bad for new members; (3) also not to talk about these things with others outside the group. Okay, so what the **** do we do instead? I feel like all avenues for discussing/venting frustration are evidently blocked.