Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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being treated like I'm just faking it

gare
gare

I'm on disability, and most of the people in my life say things that make me think they are just humoring me. like I really could work but choose not to. it's as if I'm some eccentric person who's odd life "choice" is something one must get used to. I'm not sure they know how hurtful the implications are. if I really could support myself but choose not to, then I must either be a peice of shit or too stupid to realize the truth. I wonder which one they think is the case.


I haven't been this low in years. I really hope the reason I feel this way is because of what people say and not my bp getting worse. I can get over the unkind words, but mental illness is like a storm. you can only do so much.

MoobbusT
MoobbusT
Few people know how to listen non-judgementally. You need to find some and ditch listening to people who judge you --for your own well-being.

Garbage in... garbage out.
arfie
arfie
Hello Gare. Welcome to the forum. Sorry for what brings you here, but glad you are here. Gentle empathy on that feeling of being judged and/or patronized. That one frustrates the kindness out of me, too.

There is no shortage of unkind and/or ignorant opinions in this world. In my own strictly personals, the ones which bother me the most are the ones which rub up against my strictly personal sense of inadequacy. My mental health disabilities rank pretty high on that scale and I don't really expect myself to get over ^it^. If that were possible, I would have done it a long time ago. I didn't *choose* my disability, but I do have options on how to live with it. Controlling other people's reactions is NOT on that list of options.

When this conundrum takes over my day, I head for my therapy network rather than waste energy trying to sort through other people's heads. When I can achieve a peaceful acceptance of my own condition inside my strictly personal skin, other people's reactions are not so important to me. I can shrug and say, "Keep practicing on that thinking thing, Friend. With practice, you might get good at it."

But that is me. . .

Gentle support while you sort your own. Welcome aboard.
AnnieToman
AnnieToman
its time to start introspection and know what you actually feel . if it bothers you a lot at what they say , maybe you have your own doubts your self. why come here for vindication if the judgments they make have no meaning to you?.. its time to understand your self more and understand why such judgments bother you so much, maybe if you look deep enough you may find that you feel you can do more then you do, even through your disabled . good luck, hope you find answers.
beckyp
beckyp
People can be so judgmental, especially about things they don't understand. It's not right, but it is something we have to live with sometimes. Have they been educated about BP? I found that after I educated my family about BP, they were more empathetic towards me. Sorry you are having to go through this. It's not your fault, it's their lack of empathy.
Sunshinegirl0228
Sunshinegirl0228
It’s a rarity that anyone completely or even partially understands the toll bipolar takes on ones life. I’m sorry you are dealing with such unkind people. Those reactions are exactly why I don’t tell people about my illness. Only my immediate family knows. No one else except my health care providers. People just don’t understand
Community LeaderSunCloudJD
SunCloudJD
Big hug for you Gare.... I am so sorry that you're having to struggle with the ugliness of stigma …. Shaming a person with an illness is shameful in itself

It's born of ignorance and cruelty and I have NO tolerance for it

Here's a description of stigma.... Maybe you can pass it on to the next person with an opinion ….. Another hug......xo


Three out of four people with a mental illness report that they have experienced stigma. Stigma is a mark of disgrace that sets a person apart. When a person is labelled by their illness they are seen as part of a stereotyped group. Negative attitudes create prejudice which leads to negative actions and discrimination.
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