[xRavenx]

Lately, I am super sensitive to people's reactions when I first tell them I have Bipolar. I even had a doctor (not a psychiatrist) who barely knows me at all, on first meeting say...."Really? You have Bipolar Disorder? I wouldn't have known." How would she know?...she has not taken the time to hear my experiences. Then, I've had new friends who I decide to reveal my diagnosis to (since they've revealed personal stuff to me), and they will act so surprised.....saying, "Are you sure you have Bipolar?" Just because they expect me to have a short fuse or happy one second, mad at them the next second since this is what they seem to think it means to have Bipolar.

I realize that many people do not know or understand Bipolar Disorder, but sometimes their comments make me feel bad. I'm left feeling like I wish I did not tell anyone and wish people wouldn't judge a book by its cover. You never really know what someone has gone through, and BP has been hell over the years. I struggle on the inside, even though meds often make me seem "okay" on the outside. Maybe it's my fault for opening up to some people too soon....or maybe I shouldn't be so sensitive about this. I think the reason this all triggers me is because when I was younger, my problems were dismissed by family, and I was basically told to snap out of it.

Can anyone relate? Just had to let this out.

[Coffeee]

It's always frustrating when people make flip remarks like that, in my Nami class they said it was cause you don't fit their stereotypes of someone who struggles with MI. I can relate as everyone says I seem so stable to have MI. Just right now of course they never said that during rough patches!

[1278]

That's the funny thing, right now I'm about to lose my s*** and yet I had 3 doctors tell me to snap out of it, and I don't look "bipolar". Like ,what does bipolar look like, must I tattoo it on my forehead for you? Scream it from the ****ing rooftops? I'm so pissed off, just ignore me. I've been sick for months, haven't been stable in 2 years and these idiots keep making assumptions. If I wasn't in so much pain I wouldn't be going to the doctors anyway.

[Coffeee]

1278 that sounds extremely Annoying!

My old GP was surprised about the Dx when I told her and treated me like an interesting specimen. She kept giving me weird looks that suggested she was uncomfortable around me. Same thing with her nurse. In fact, her nurse was even worse. I think she thought I was a total psycho! She genuinely looked SCARED of me.

My new GP is totally cool with it. No weird looks or anything. She just asks how I'm doing and takes my psych meds into consideration when she gives me other meds. The only thing that's annoying is that she kinda ignored the probable hyperthyroid issues I have. I'm not sure if she was doing it on purpose or not paying close enough attention. It's a big deal to me since hyperthyroidism can cause BP-like symptoms.

[wildcat04]

My father, who has been absent most of my life, told me that I didn't "look" like I had bipolar. Who says that?

[1278]

Originally Posted by Coffeee

1278 that sounds extremely Annoying!

It really is, plus I might have appendicitis so I'm extra irritable Sometimes I wonder how doctors think, I mean, I was studying to be a doctor too, I did the psych block (at the same Uni I might add) , and not once did it cross my mind that ''these people are crazy'' or ''people with bipolar fit a certain stereotype'' because you can honestly never tell at all. But maybe it's because I knew I was mentally ill myself.

[Daonnachd]

Originally Posted by xRavenx

Just because they expect me to have a short fuse or happy one second, mad at them the next second since this is what they seem to think it means to have Bipolar.

You're probably right in why they doubt it, just look at the various bipolar cartoons that misrepresent the symptoms of our illness.

It sounds like that would be a good opportunity to educate them. Make it clear that bipolar is not actually like flipping a switch, though many cartoons would have you think so. We don't go through multiple cycles in a day, and often can go months without a remarkably noticeable episode. ...or something to that effect if they haven't caught you too off guard to give a measured response.

My general practitioner agrees with me when I say I don't think I have bipolar. When I say, "I don't think I have that" he says, "I don't either". I find it reassuring....it feels like someone is in my court and listening to me. I truly believe my GP listens to me more than anyone from the psych department.

[Standup2me]

I had to go to a walk-in clinic last week because I needed a refill of my prn and my pdoc's office is closed for the month of August
He was "fascinated" to talk to somebody bipolar, and must have talked to me for 20 minutes about my experiences.
He was truly interested, and I felt really respected.
He said that he learnt a lot from me.