[Pookyl]

What is the strangest question you’ve been asked: mine was “is bipolar an autoimmune disease?”

[~Christina]

Isn’t Bipolar for people who do drugs or use alcohol.

You never shaved your head did you ? Britney Spears did.

[TheSeaCat]

Was Bipolar caused by a Polar Bear? This was by my eight year old niece but I thought it was too cute not to share. Her mother and I were discussing it and I guess she was listening and was like was bipolar caused by a Polar Bear because they are cute animals. Both of my nieces know that I have health issues to various degrees but I don't think they firmly understand which is a good thing because I don't quite want to ruin their childhood.

[Wander]

'Please don't hurt me!'.

Said my father-in-law(ex) when my husband and I moved in with his parents while both struggling with illness. It was like he thought I was going to stab him in his sleep! I was so offended, but slightly amused. Btw, the 18 months we lived there resulted in no violence, although he and his wife did yell and scream a lot which was NOT helpful to say the least.

[Raindropvampire]

You got the bipolar...is it contagious?? Asked by my cousin in a very frightened voice.

did the devil give you your illness and is he watching us right now?. does he talk to you?

is being bipolar part of a secret club, and if so, how can I join? (asked by someone who was stigmatising me)

can you do regular normal things?. walk normally, talk normally, if I touch you will I be infected?

do bipolar people wash themselves?

will you live with your parents forever?

have you ever made a proper dicision?

if you go mannic, then does that mean you will hate me forever?

if you go out the house, then does that make you go all weird?

do bipolar people have hobbies, or do they just sit around being depressed

[sarahsweets]

"Omg I so get it! My moods are totally up and down, I must be bipolar too!"

[Aurelius710]

Originally Posted by raging vortex

did the devil give you your illness and is he watching us right now?. does he talk to you?

is being bipolar part of a secret club, and if so, how can I join? (asked by someone who was stigmatising me)

can you do regular normal things?. walk normally, talk normally, if I touch you will I be infected?

do bipolar people wash themselves?

will you live with your parents forever?

have you ever made a proper dicision?

if you go mannic, then does that mean you will hate me forever?

if you go out the house, then does that make you go all weird?

do bipolar people have hobbies, or do they just sit around being depressed

The ones in bold for me too plus the depressingly typical:
Why can't you get over it?
How long have you been going to school?
What's your excuse? (This person was comparing physical ailments to psychological ones without realizing or caring that I had both.)

Originally Posted by Aurelius710

The ones in bold for me too plus the depressingly typical:
Why can't you get over it?
How long have you been going to school?
What's your excuse? (This person was comparing physical ailments to psychological ones without realizing or caring that I had both.)

I totally forgot about the just get over it one.

yeah that too.

also "stop being so difficult."

while it's not a question, anyone who patronizes someone with a mental illness and uses words a 4 year old would understand

[BeyondtheRainbow]

are you taking your meds? My cousin takes his lithium and he's fine.

"Everyone's bipolar".

Oh REEEEALY?!?! WTH?!!!

Ooops, guess that's not a question, lol(!) But it sure was a stupid thing to say. (I later thought of a comeback if I ever hear it again.)

[Lefty Seven]

Are you okay?

I couldn't think of a single thing to contribute here. I haven't told too many people beyond my very immediate family. Just a few friends and my neighbor. Oddly, no one asked me even one question these past 15+ years. My sister has a bipolar dx, and so did my youngest nephew. They and their closest family members did their own research, except maybe my dad who never even wanted to ask. No one other than my husband ever visited me during any of my 10 hospitalizations, even though most live within a 35 min max drive. I visited my youngest nephew during some of his. After pressing him and expressing disappointment, my father finally confessed to being scared. His mother had bipolar disorder. It was stressful for him during her worst years.

People never sent me cards or anything during my hospitalizations. They probably would have if I had had a heart attack or other non-psych hospitalization. When I returned to work various times after prolonged absences, no one said a solitary word. They all knew they were psychiatric hospitalizations. Even my best friend said little. I talked about it, but she posed few questions. Even though my husband did tons of research and gave me lots of love and support, he rarely asked questions. He knew enough. I'd ask about my behavior during psychosis (many were manic blackouts). He refused to talk about it.

My husband did send me flowers and made sweet cards and collages for me while I was hospitalized. Only him.

[wiretwister]

not strange but everyone to a man has said ... " your taking your medication " ... not really being asked they are just telling me they expect it ... I guess ...

[Pookyl]

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

"Omg I so get it! My moods are totally up and down, I must be bipolar too!"

Oh gosh yes! I get told this too.

[Nammu]

Can you drive? (!)

[Victoria'smom]

"I'm probably bipolar, too" YEAH, you are.
"Do you know what Mania is?" Yep I do.

[Pookyl]

Originally Posted by Lefty Seven

Are you okay?

I don’t mind this one too much. Here in Australia we have a “R U Okay?” campaign aimed at trying to reduce mental health related suicide rates.

Originally Posted by Lefty Seven

Are you okay?

I don't like this one.

most cases when people ask me this, they are expecting me to say, "yes," so they can move on with their lives.

it's been a long time since I was truly "okay."

"if you are truly suicidal, why are you even here."

[sarahsweets]

" did you hear about Mrs celebrity and her meltdown? i heard she has that bipolar and is totally bats**t crazy!"

[Wander]

Originally Posted by raging vortex

"if you are truly suicidal, why are you even here."

OMG! I've had that one too. It is worse than ignorant.