when it comes to bipolar

with physical issues and illnesses I think it's normal to say I'm sick, I'm ill, but do you do that with your BP?

I don't. I just say mental illness. I don't say sick or unwell or anything other than mental illness or condition.

I don't consider bipolar as a sickness, more of an illness.

make sense?

what do you think.

[Moose72]

I just say I "have bipolar" and leave it at that.

[Fuzzybear]

I think that ''we are people first''....

If I am "sick," I either have a cold or I am throwing up. Those are the only two times I use "sick" in reference to myself.

Bipolar is an ongoing condition, while 99% of colds tend to be short lived. So, I basically use the words "sick" or "ill" in reference to acute conditions where I am expected to recover fully. I think most people use "sick" and "ill" in the same manner, except in rare cases when someone is terminally sick/ill, but then again, people will still use the word "terminally" in that case to denote that they do not expect a loved one or person to overcome whatever disease they are ailed with.

Some people with bipolar do say they are "sick" when experiencing an episode, but even then, "sick" implies they expect to reach stability at some point.

[SorryShaped]

When I am so depressed I can't move, I'm sick. When I'm constantly buzzing around for days and nights, I'm sick. So yes, bipolar is, to me, an illness

[Miss Laura]

I suffer from bipolar.... I hate the words associated with a mental health illness. Is it an illness or a disorder or something else???

I hate receiving disability benefits for it but I just can't function. If I worked I'd be worse off health wise

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Some people with bipolar do say they are "sick" when experiencing an episode, but even then, "sick" implies they expect to reach stability at some point.

I'm one of those people bluebicycle refers to in her paragraph above. I do feel sick when I am very depressed. I think I am sick when manic or in a mixed state, or psychotic. It's not good, to me. In my view, it could be looked at as a figurative nausea. I'm not functioning properly and have reduced control during such episodes.

When I am stable (or mostly so), I don't consider myself sick or even ill. But yes, I still have a permanent health issue that must be looked after, permanently. There are many illnesses like that, many of which have remission. For example, epilepsy.

I agree that conditions like bipolar disorder should not define us, but denial of their existence can be dangerous. Just as I don't pretend that other challenges don't exist, I have to acknowledge my bipolar disorder.

[*Beth*]

I'm with SorryShaped. Even when I'm stable I feel that I'm so different from being a "normal" person that yeah, I think of myself as...I don't know, "sick" is a bit extreme...but I definitely feel fragile, or not well, or something like that.

[bpcyclist]

i consider myself to suffer from an incurable brain disorder or disease called type 1 bipolar. A disease of the human brain. Like cancer, or diabetes.

[Nammu]

I'm with blue, I reserve the word sick for throwing up or acute illness. When I'm manic I'm never sick or I'll I have super powers. When I'm very depressed I do say I have an illness or deseise. But when I'm stable I don't, not from the BP, my back is a different issue tho.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by Miss Laura

I suffer from bipolar.... I hate the words associated with a mental health illness. Is it an illness or a disorder or something else???

I hate receiving disability benefits for it but I just can't function. If I worked I'd be worse off health wise

Why do you hate getting disability? I cognitively can't work. I think disability is a blessing.

[Miss Laura]

Originally Posted by Moose72

Why do you hate getting disability? I cognitively can't work. I think disability is a blessing.

I see it as a weakness I'm 35 been on it for nearly 10 years. It's different if I was in my 50's. I'm a young women who will so far never have a job, never have a pension, I will never contribute to my national insurance meaning I haven't worked since 2011. It's a personal attack on me as a person. But I can't even volunteer effectively let alone work. Very few people in my life know I haven't got a job. I'm so ashamed if the stigma yes that I hold but that others hold too. I want to work, I should be working, I am capable of a job end of.... I've held a few jobs down prior to being ill so I know I can do it to a degree

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by Miss Laura

I see it as a weakness I'm 35 been on it for nearly 10 years. It's different if I was in my 50's. I'm a young women who will so far never have a job, never have a pension, I will never contribute to my national insurance meaning I haven't worked since 2011. It's a personal attack on me as a person. But I can't even volunteer effectively let alone work. Very few people in my life know I haven't got a job. I'm so ashamed if the stigma yes that I hold but that others hold too. I want to work, I should be working, I am capable of a job end of.... I've held a few jobs down prior to being ill so I know I can do it to a degree

You seem to really be judging yourself, Miss Laura. It is not fair, in my opinion, to expect as much of yourself with this illness as it is without it.

[BipolaRNurse]

I don't think of myself as mentally ill, except when I'm actively in an episode, and even then I usually don't have enough insight to recognize that I really AM sick. I don't "feel ill" when I'm manic; I believe it only when I'm super depressed/sui. That's when I go to the hospital.

[Miss Laura]

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

You seem to really be judging yourself, Miss Laura. It is not fair, in my opinion, to expect as much of yourself with this illness as it is without it.

Yeah I hear it is part of perfectionism. Which I'm told I have. My head won't give up and it's a constant vicious cycle in my head. I'm the opposite to you I must be able to live my life the way I use to. I missed living my life I was diagnosed at 25 I've lost my career etc I'm angry at that tbh

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

You seem to really be judging yourself, Miss Laura. It is not fair, in my opinion, to expect as much of yourself with this illness as it is without it.

I also thought that, how Miss Laura seems to be really judging herself. imho that also does not say much for the ''help'' she may be receiving. In some forests imho they ''encourage'' pejorative self put downs. It may reduce the ''burden'' on the ''services'' and ''disability payments'' etc. jmvho (some people avoid them having been put down nastily repeatedly by ''service'' workers )

[Skeezyks]

The Skeezyks never talks to anyone. So the issue never comes up.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by Fuzzybear

I also thought that, how Miss Laura seems to be really judging herself. imho that also does not say much for the ''help'' she may be receiving. In some forests imho they ''encourage'' pejorative self put downs. It may reduce the ''burden'' on the ''services'' and ''disability payments'' etc. jmvho (some people avoid them having been put down nastily repeatedly by ''service'' workers )

I am very sad for you.

You seem to be chronically caught up in, and haunted by, some experience(s) you have had with mental health care. It sounds very painful and sad.

You'd likely feel greatly relieved if you could find a way to heal, to let go of the hurtful experiences and to somehow move on.

It makes me very sad to know you continue to suffer so deeply.
I love ya!

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

I am very sad for you.

You seem to be chronically caught up in, and haunted by, some experience(s) you have had with mental health care. It sounds very painful and sad.

You'd likely feel greatly relieved if you could find a way to heal, to let go of the hurtful experiences and to somehow move on.

It makes me very sad to know you continue to suffer so deeply.
I love ya!

Thanks, I find them impossible to talk to, they don't listen. Maybe I was misunderstanding Miss Laura's post. Maybe her providers are more understanding than the ones I have found....

Also the situation with **** of course doesn't help and makes it harder to find a new provider....

I am fortunate compared to some in that we can pay a provider (although not easily)... I guess I need to trust that there are some ''good'' ones out there.

[Fuzzybear]

Hi Miss Laura, I wondered if you have read any DBT, I haven't read much of it, but it can maybe help let go of some self blame? It really sounds like you are blaming yourself for a medical condition.

[Miss Laura]

Originally Posted by Fuzzybear

Hi Miss Laura, I wondered if you have read any DBT, I haven't read much of it, but it can maybe help let go of some self blame? It really sounds like you are blaming yourself for a medical condition.

I haven't might need to invest in some books thanks. Yeah I do blame myself. If only I hadn't admitted things were so wrong/bad

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

i consider myself to suffer from an incurable brain disorder or disease called type 1 bipolar. A disease of the human brain. Like cancer, or diabetes.

I agree. I think you have stated it very well.

[Fuzzybear]

Right now? Yeah, I do feel quite ill

Still hanging onto “sanity” and onto Love

With respect and gratitude to all

[Fuzzybear]

A very dear friend who has been officially dxd over many years with “severe treatment resistant depression” By multiple competent and experienced doctors.... was given the following advice ..

To treat their major depression as if it was chronic pain (or diabetes) ... at least I think those were the words

Possible trigger:

Shoot me if I’m wrong Joke.. . , my memory / words are not always 100 percent accurate however hard I try. Does this mean I should never speak? If so this world would be a very cold, hard and sad place/

And I celebrate my “healthy narcissism”
(a good friend who was a dr told me this is essential for survival and I didn’t have as much of it as maybe I “should” and I think she was much more accurate about me than any of the many professionals I have consulted f2f (none of those mentioned narcissism in me or any of my units although my PUS had strong malignant traits. Feel free to ignore all of this I do not have time to edit. Thank you

(someone save my life tonight.. is playing... no worries, I am “safe”

(not about anyone on pc)

[Jennyanydots]

I feel the same way.

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

I'm one of those people bluebicycle refers to in her paragraph above. I do feel sick when I am very depressed. I think I am sick when manic or in a mixed state, or psychotic. It's not good, to me. In my view, it could be looked at as a figurative nausea. I'm not functioning properly and have reduced control during such episodes.

When I am stable (or mostly so), I don't consider myself sick or even ill. But yes, I still have a permanent health issue that must be looked after, permanently. There are many illnesses like that, many of which have remission. For example, epilepsy.

I agree that conditions like bipolar disorder should not define us, but denial of their existence can be dangerous. Just as I don't pretend that other challenges don't exist, I have to acknowledge my bipolar disorder.