[LettinG0]

I just had to sit and listen to a couple of co-workers laugh and make jokes about people they knew who had been in the state mental hospital....(and one of them had a brother that spent a lot of time there)....

And, of course, I just sat there with my mouth shut......I wasn't brave enough to speak up....

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I worked in a place where people made a lot of fun with people with mental illnesses. It was awful and I was so uncomfortable and then we had a patient with a really rare diagnosis that later proved to be wrong anyway (conversion disorder; turns out she really did have that stroke they said was psychiatric). Anyway I eventually pulled the managers aside and said something. One of them was really bad about the whole thing and she was highly embarrassed which wasn't my intention, I just wanted it to stop. But speaking up was the worst thing I could have done; from that day on they just wanted to get rid of me. I should have realized that if the culture of the group is that it is ok to laugh at people with mental illness they sure aren't going to accept someone into the group who has one.

So sorry you had to sit through that; it's awful.

[scatterbrained04]

Oh gosh I know the feeling. I work in a doctors office and occassionally people I work with will conclude that because a patient has a bipolar diagnoses, they are incapable of making good health decisions.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

My family dr (who is amazing and who I "trained" since I started seeing him as soon as he finished residency and I kind of taught him that I know what I'm doing and here's how he can help) has told me several times that his staff will look at my paperwork and comment on how difficult I must be and that he always tells them no, I'm his easiest patient. Makes me smile every time because I like that he is willing to point out to his staff that just because I'm on the meds I'm on and have the diagnoses doesn't mean I'm incapable of taking care of myself or understanding my own health conditions. And when something has come up and his staff has made my life more difficult than necessary because of the dx he has always stood firmly beside me and educated whoever needed educated. I am so thankful to have him (and I have refused to change drs even though he no longer is local because he gets me so well). It's a nice change from so many medical practices. Around here it can be hard to even get a family dr; I didn't have one for a long time because they wouldn't take me while I was on an AP or they refused to believe that they needed to look up that lithium couldn't be taken with ibuproferon or whatever. There was a short time that my pdoc did a few primary care things because I just didn't have anyone except urgent care and urgent care didn't want to deal with me either. (I live in a really rural area and there aren't even pdocs around here who want to take bipolar patients).

[tigger_57]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

My family dr (who is amazing and who I "trained" since I started seeing him as soon as he finished residency and I kind of taught him that I know what I'm doing and here's how he can help) has told me several times that his staff will look at my paperwork and comment on how difficult I must be and that he always tells them no, I'm his easiest patient. Makes me smile every time because I like that he is willing to point out to his staff that just because I'm on the meds I'm on and have the diagnoses doesn't mean I'm incapable of taking care of myself or understanding my own health conditions. And when something has come up and his staff has made my life more difficult than necessary because of the dx he has always stood firmly beside me and educated whoever needed educated. I am so thankful to have him (and I have refused to change drs even though he no longer is local because he gets me so well). It's a nice change from so many medical practices. Around here it can be hard to even get a family dr; I didn't have one for a long time because they wouldn't take me while I was on an AP or they refused to believe that they needed to look up that lithium couldn't be taken with ibuproferon or whatever. There was a short time that my pdoc did a few primary care things because I just didn't have anyone except urgent care and urgent care didn't want to deal with me either. (I live in a really rural area and there aren't even pdocs around here who want to take bipolar patients).

I love my gp ... she is the only doc that ever got me .... I really dread thinking of her ever retirings ...

I would never reveal my MI at work ...

[BlackSheep79]

I came out a long time ago and this has happened to me. That I might go postal coming off one of my meds. I took care of it myself. There has been other situations where others that hadn't heard about my diagnosis and start saying stuff and I interject and say "by the way I suffer from bipolar." It shuts them right up. I understand your dilemma though in not saying something.

[tigger_57]

Originally Posted by LettinG0

I just had to sit and listen to a couple of co-workers laugh and make jokes about people they knew who had been in the state mental hospital....(and one of them had a brother that spent a lot of time there)....

And, of course, I just sat there with my mouth shut......I wasn't brave enough to speak up....

people have always been mean to those they are different from ... used to be racial ... used to be gay .... maybe just maybe we will get there too ....

it's not being brave or not .... some people thrive on conflict ... and you may have started a battle not worth fighting ... smart people chose battles worth fighting ... there will be a time when it's right ... love yourself ...

[BastetsMuse]

Originally Posted by LettinG0

I just had to sit and listen to a couple of co-workers laugh and make jokes about people they knew who had been in the state mental hospital....(and one of them had a brother that spent a lot of time there)....

And, of course, I just sat there with my mouth shut......I wasn't brave enough to speak up....

There's not much you can do in that kind of environment without outing yourself and becoming a target. I've been in supportive workplaces and I've been in horrible places.

I'm so sorry your workplace is the bad kind.

[LettinG0]

Thanks guys for your insight and compassion.

Afterwards, I just felt like I should have said something.....even if it was a "generic" statement......but yeah, I just didn't have the energy to interject myself and then maybe have to defend.

I am not ashamed of my MI....and under the right circumstances would readily "out" myself, especially if I thought someone would benefit from knowing....

Just a tricky path to walk sometimes.

[Fuzzybear]

[Christopher1990]

Man.. this was trigger me. Calling someone crazy is one thing. But ridiculing and making a mockery out of being in mental hospital is sad. I would have to say something, I don't think I'd be able to keep my mouth shut.

[LettinG0]

Originally Posted by Christopher1990

Man.. this was trigger me. Calling someone crazy is one thing. But ridiculing and making a mockery out of being in mental hospital is sad. I would have to say something, I don't think I'd be able to keep my mouth shut.

I am so sorry that this triggered you.

And, yes, I wish I had went with my gut and said something....I usually do "open" my mouth.......just not really sure why I didn't this time.

I agree it is a sad and terrible thing for people to do.

[Christopher1990]

Originally Posted by LettinG0

I am so sorry that this triggered you.


And, yes, I wish I had went with my gut and said something....I usually do "open" my mouth.......just not really sure why I didn't this time.


I agree it is a sad and terrible thing for people to do.

I ment it Would have triggered me if I was in your situation.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[LettinG0]

Originally Posted by Christopher1990

I ment it Would have triggered me if I was in your situation.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Ok....gotcha......worried me that I had upset you....glad that wasn't what you meant....

And, yes....it was very difficult....

[Azvixxen]

I get very mouthy when people start talking about mental illness negatively. I work in HR and one of the girls hung up a sign for Halloween that said Insane Asylum and I about lost my mind. Looking back I could have handled it a little better, but they understand how I feel now lol!

[tipper1492]

I believe it was best just to say nothing because they would probably be asking you questions you'd care not to hear, or answer. What ever you say, they couldn't care less, and they might pick on you. I say the less they know about you, the better. My opinion. Don't be opening any doors for them.

[raspberrytorte]

This type of situation would make me so angry. I'm burning up inside just thinking about if I was in a situation like that!

[tanto]

I've brought similar issues up with HR before and it never turns out well. Sort of stuff that makes you want to wear a hidden camera and microphone to work everyday. Seems like the only way to get things working on our side is to threaten legal action backed up with evidence :/ We can't talk politics at work, but people sure can spread their archaic views on MI all they want.

[cakeladie]

I am so sorry LettinGo people can be mean and nasty. I know when I worked I had a doctor who would hide my cane if I left my office without it. And mind you if I left without it it was an emergency and I was trying to put out fires. One day she left for a meeting and it was time for me to go home.

To get to my truck I had to walk up 2 flights of stairs cross the street then walk a few blocks. By the end of the day I really needed my cane and sometime it would take 45 minutes to get to my truck.

We could not find my cane anywhere. Someone had to go get my truck for me. By the time I got home I was so upset I was crying. I was embarrassed that I even needed a cane and that someone had to get my truck for me.

I am so sorry I feel for you and everyone who has been hurt by ignorant people

[Row Jimmy]

I had one co-worker today say to me "you're either fully happy or completely angry". He means well and isn't a jerk but it sort of reminded me that I still have some issues to settle in my life. I sort of got paranoid. I'm sure some people at work either think or know I'm bipolar. Meh, so what.

We will conquer......one day at a time, Sister LettinG0!

[Row Jimmy]

Originally Posted by Christopher1990

Man.. this was trigger me. Calling someone crazy is one thing. But ridiculing and making a mockery out of being in mental hospital is sad. I would have to say something, I don't think I'd be able to keep my mouth shut.

That's something I've actually gotten quite good at.....my mouth used to get me in trouble all the time.

[LettinG0]

Originally Posted by Row Jimmy

I had one co-worker today say to me "you're either fully happy or completely angry". He means well and isn't a jerk but it sort of reminded me that I still have some issues to settle in my life. I sort of got paranoid. I'm sure some people at work either think or know I'm bipolar. Meh, so what.

We will conquer......one day at a time, Sister LettinG0!

Thanks, Row.......and I had a performance review at work the other day and when it came to the question about attitude, my boss marked it with a "good" review but then said "You sure can get pissy, though".........don't think I always hide it so well, either........

[Alone & confused]

I am just the opposite. I've never been able to keep my big mouth shut! It's like a knee-jerk reaction with me. ( of course, that's not always a good thing either!) I've always defended "bullied" people and I'm bad about calling people out when they're wrong, rude or hateful. It gets me into trouble sometimes though. I'm sorry you have to suffer working with people like that!