Well, first of all, just FYI, (in a kind sense) a prescription is something you get from the dr. so you can go get meds, or whatever else the dr. deems worthy of prescribing for your healthcare....a diagnosis is "given"....similar words with different meanings!! :)

My response to others about my well being or not, or why I really can't work or not, depends on whether or not they want to learn more, or just want to judge me. If I offer to tell them more, and they cut me off, try to give me more useless info, disagree, etc....then I either shut up, change the subject, or let them f*** themselves, (or tell them to, depending on my mood at that particular moment!!)

Unfortunately, it's not just stereotypes we are given from others, but made out to be scapegoats as well, particularly in close relationships. However, once we recognize that is the case, it's good to also recognize that is THEIR shortcoming, not ours.

((( HUGS )))

of course you are not "defined" by your dx. :) We all seem to go through times when it is just Easier to deal with people and situations than at other times, whether those situations are Ideal or Not, sigh. Life is full of Crap sometimes, for everyone - "ill" or not!

Hoo boy, M - I hate that feeling, knowing there was a Real problem but my "disorder" is blamed when I respond to the problem...(jerks!) I hope you will keep Notes when you are harassed at work or something in general (in life), so when you Have to defend yourself to someone you will have clerly documented explanations for your responses.

You can learn a lot about Yourself by doing that too, like with journaling - learning whether your responses to the same "triggers" (and I call them that) change with your actual Illness or stay the same. (Such as, if an employer berates you over and over, would you (a) walk out on the job, or (b) tell them firmly how that affects you, or (c) start looking for another job while still there.....etc)


We will Always have to deal with those who take the easy way out when it comes to understanding/explaining things, but the Best thing we can do for ourselves is to keep Growing, and say "Did I do Everything I could to make this work? What can I learn from this to handle the next situation differently?" in Any area, be it work, school or social settings, etc.

Hey - it ain't gonna be perfect out there, and I Wish other people would wake UP - but we have to work with what we got. And I am Glad to know you, my more-complex-than-her-illness friend :)

I've never been defined by my diagnosis but I'm constantly defined by my behavior! It was my behavior that gave me my BPI diagnosis!

Yea starfish... scapegoat might be the best terminology in this case. He happens to go through employees fast. People.can't deal with him because he likes to blame them for his f#*@ ups. Considering all the facts is something I do well and I gave him plenty of chances. His loss

MA: Tanx :D It's good to review the facts before making any rash decisions. I was getting about 5 text messages a day from him. I think he might have had a.crush on me or something. He's acting like I broke up with him... weird

I understand your point tommycat,

My behavior is more important than a dx. What I was really getting at is how people use the knowledge of my dx to justify their actions. It was because of my inaction for so long that made it a real problem.

There will always be people who will exploit a dx like BP to make themselves feel better. People fear what they cannot understand

You go, girl!!!!!!

I get it. That is right up there with, "Do you have PMS?"

Noooo, it's not my bipolar and it's not PMS. I just don't like you.

Totally MK! Lol... couldn't have put it better myself :b

I hope this comment is helpfull and positive and worded correctly, because I can make mistakes. My illness gets blamed as well, when I go downhill. But those who do not have what we have, must also realize that, we do have real feelings, and can have a regular bad day, that is not caused by our illness. I agree that we should not be. When I get judge for that, I just tell myself that "I have feelings just like everydody ealse, and not everyday is a crash." So I try to turn my frown upside down and move on, and forget those who cannot accept me for who I am.

We aren't defined by the diagnosis for sure.. it certainly plays a part in our lives but that's just something we deal with..
If he was harassing you it sounds like he's trying to find an excuse blame on what happened and that's just wrong.. nothing to do with BP at all..
Educating people that want to be educated is important... I think we do have to pick our battles wisely or they'll come back to bite us..
This boss though sounds way out of line..xo

I am so with you on this one today especially. No one has come right out and said it, but the "oh she is just having an episode" stench is in the air. Truth be told I'm doing very well, people are just assholes sometimes.

People, ecspecially my family blame shit I do on Bipolar. Its a crock of shit.

I say we start our own company. We have schedules, onsite pdocs, on onsite pharmacy. You work, at the same place you go to the doctor. We can have pointless staff meeting just to meet and talking about "normies". We'll hire some normies but make them work the weekends and holidays.

We will call Bipolar Inc. or MIAK Inc (Miak = Mental Illness Ass Kickers) Wait, that might be to close to Ass kissers. scratch that. Back to Bipolar Inc.

This is why I do not let people know.