[Bipolartist]

Those of us who suffer from bipolar disorder are, in my opinion and based on the threads I'm reading, not people who entirely consider themselves "the norm." But when others detect this strange taste of mine, specifically in this case my sense of humor and taste in art and music, I get so excited. Someone finally "gets" me.

However, my excitement fades as soon as I get to know the person and find out that they consider YouTube videos of people getting hurt or telling racist jokes or something sexually explicit as... funny. Is it just me or is the world getting scarier?

Most people, for some reason, feel at ease enough with me to share their darkest/dirtiest sides and sometimes their bad taste in music and art. Again, I get very disappointed. So, as a result, I have about 3 or 4 people I consider close friends. Very frustrating.

I'd like to hear other people's opinions on this phenomenon.

I also feel very alone when people don't share my taste in things. It's always exciting to meet someone who does, but they're few and far between. It's so easy when you're kids because EVERYONE wants to play in the dirt, but as adults we all develop specialized interests and that can make you feel isolated.

I feel kind of resentful because when people i am interested in tell me their niche interests i often follow-up on them and try to share them. I usually don't like them like they do but at least i make an effort and can then discuss their favorite things with them.

But nobody does this for me! And i don't know why people aren't more flattered that i follow-up on things for them. It would mean a great deal to me if someone did that for me!

Other people just don't make sense to me. I don't know what they want and they certainly don't do what i want, so for now i am taking a break. I've been on my own for a while [avoiding my support group] and i feel fine. I guess it's better to be truly alone rather than with people and feel alone.

Whatever. I will just enjoy my cool self!

Sometimes i think back to my very first boyfriend in high school. That was the best relationship i ever had. I learned so much from him about music and he liked my favorite novels -- we SHARED stuff. I haven't had a relationship like that since then. There's just nobody i connect with.

[Darvula]

I don't really care if people "get" me. Most don't. I have a few good friends and they are enough. Less is more.

Darvula

[HALLIEBETH87]

I feel alone in it

[Crazy Hitch]

People in this world are all unique.

We all start out as acquaintances when we first meet someone.

Then as the relationship progresses we find out more about the person.

It's not that the person has necessarily changed from when we first met them. It's just that we see a bigger picture of who they are.

And we're all free to decide. We can take the relationship further and develop it into a friendship based on common ground and comfortable understanding of one another. Or we can decide that it will remain as casual relationships depending on our level of comfortability. It shouldn't disappoint us really because there is the expectation that somewhere along the track people's true colors eventually shine through. I guess the disappointment can creep in if we've seen enough of a persons side to begin believing that a friendship could form but then a curve ball gets thrown and we realise we were wrong. Some peoples true colors take longer than others to pop out. But rest assured they eventually will and you'll find out exactly who they are.

[tipper1492]

Maybe some BP people try too hard to be accepted, or perhaps work at trying to have another see their own side. I did before medications. People with different interest do not care for another to question their own feelings, or have someone trying to change their minds. I do not tell anyone about my BP, and certainly do not ask others their opinions. My wife likes country music, and I do not over all, but neither of us will try to change the others mind. When in her car, I have no choice about what kind of music is played. I can't say there is a norm.

[*PeaceLily*]

I sometimes wonder whether there is a cultural dimension to which people develop certain issues- as in, are we out of step with this culture, and therefore seen as 'other' and 'different'? I'm not saying that's the whole reason, but I do think its probably a part of the picture.

I've noticed that people who develop mental health issues generally have a sensitivity that is pervasive.It affects the whole way we view the world.we see little things that other people don't see and that can be painful We make links between things that other people can't or don't want to make.

For instance, I notice when things are a sign of the weird gender roles we have culturally that are so harmful and I'm not cool with it.I don't like terms like 'be a man' or 'act like a lady'. Other people don't care but because of my background, it resonates more with me, and I know that little things have a BIG effect, like the butterfly effect I guess.I wont necessarily say anything, but I would not be as close to someone who tended to perpetuate that kind of stuff as routine.

Mental health issues can also be connected with things like abuse, and generally poor family dynamics,(not always though,) which can cause us to seek connection more than other people do.

I dont consider 'bad taste' in music or art as a deep, dirty secret though or an issue at all. I just see it as different taste.I really dont care what people's taste in music or art is .Stuff like that doesn't bother me. I find it hard to tolerate cruelty and opinions on mental health/abuse/sexism etc that I consider ignorant though.I can 'tolerate' it, in the sense I probably can't change that person,but I wouldn't want to be cool with that person.

Im understanding of the majority of things people have done in their life- Ive had a mad life that people could judge me for, so I tend to operate from the perspective that everyone has a story and it may not be pretty. :-)

xxxx

[*PeaceLily*]

Originally Posted by apfei

Whatever. I will just enjoy my cool self!.

i love this!!

x

[Creative1onder]

Originally Posted by apfei

I also feel very alone when people don't share my taste in things. It's always exciting to meet someone who does, but they're few and far between. It's so easy when you're kids because EVERYONE wants to play in the dirt, but as adults we all develop specialized interests and that can make you feel isolated.

I feel kind of resentful because when people i am interested in tell me their niche interests i often follow-up on them and try to share them. I usually don't like them like they do but at least i make an effort and can then discuss their favorite things with them.

But nobody does this for me! And i don't know why people aren't more flattered that i follow-up on things for them. It would mean a great deal to me if someone did that for me!

Other people just don't make sense to me. I don't know what they want and they certainly don't do what i want, so for now i am taking a break. I've been on my own for a while [avoiding my support group] and i feel fine. I guess it's better to be truly alone rather than with people and feel alone.

Whatever. I will just enjoy my cool self!

Sometimes i think back to my very first boyfriend in high school. That was the best relationship i ever had. I learned so much from him about music and he liked my favorite novels -- we SHARED stuff. I haven't had a relationship like that since then. There's just nobody i connect with.

I have illness which has been challenging living with for numerous years. While it is debilitating and isolating, and frightening, i know i have qualities and talents too. I like and am good at singing and have always liked singing with others in group, have sung in different choirs and music jams. I am in a choir at moment and i have become more confident in my singing. Different people have made nice remarks about my voice. I have gone from singing alto parts in choirs to soprano parts and like harmonising too. I took up challenge to join smaller group in current choir and last week put myself in position of dueting with someone else and singing to others in group. But i backed out of that in the end cos i didnt feel ready to do that. I havent done solo before in choir. That could be my chance to do solo in choir concert but i let the other women take on the whole solo part by herself.

[Artchic528]

I know what I enjoy and what my hobbies are, but I feel that I'm not as into things as most others who share my hobbies. For instance, I enjoy reading manga and watching anime, but I feel as though the members of this local anime/manga group I've recently joined, all watch far more anime and read far more manga than I do, and by default, I shouldn't be a member as I'm not familiar with most of the anime and manga they talk about.

Same with people I've talked to online in the past. I've always felt dissociated with them because I feel I'm not as into what they are into, even though we are into the same sorts of things.