dx belief

No one is afraid of "depression"

Who's not? They may think a depressed person might want to hurt themselves at work? I get what you're saying, but I've just never been one to succumb to stigma.

Hellboy

Our daughter, who is a civilian contractor working with the Army in Afghanistan, had to supply not only her own health history (which is minimal) but give ours as well to receive her security clearance before she could take the job. She said my diagnosis raised a couple of eyebrows, but she did get her clearance. I was hoping it wouldn't cost her that opportunity, after all, SHE'S not bipolar. But I think it concerned them because it can be hereditary.

It stinks when we'd rather have a diagnosis of depression because it's more socially acceptable than our actual diagnosis of BP. ALL mental illnesses suck; why can't we just be who and what we are without being defined by them?

This. I too am very high functioning and often feel disbelief of my label. But when I do realize that I *am* better functioning on meds, and more even, I think there must be something to the diagnosis.... or whatever it is, as long as something I'm doing works, good!

It takes time to process and integrate this idea into your identity. Hang in there.

Yep, when people hear depression they can somewhat relate and have some empathy. When they hear bipolar I think a lot think "danger" or crazy/unstable.

Or as my most recent pDoc said, "you're not crazy, you're just disturbed".

I have no issues with the Bipolar label .. My Pdoc said your Bipolar I and I said ...umm Okay . Getting the lable didnt change me.. or change how I feel about myself.

I guess I am lucky that I have never had a problem with it. To me the Label is something that is needed to bill my insurance company for services I need.

I do understand why many people do have trouble with being diagnosed, Most people have had Bipolar lonnnnnnnnng before they were diagnosed .

I hope everyone in there own way can come to terms with there illness .

I agree and it's not really a label, it's an illness. Nobody goes around worrying about that cancer label or that diabetes label, they worry about the illness and its treatment.

Hellboy

you totally understand what I am saying,, I don't care what they label me, it's work and fear of being found out that is bugging me....