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.
Has anyone been labelled a spoilt brat because of their behaviour?
The social climate in the UK is very different to what you might expect if you're only exposed to it via the media, unless you've lived here for a long period of time. Labour (our current governing party), for example, is a left wing party and a number of Tony Blairs original cabinet members, and many members of the part itself, were once members of the british communist party. Obviously there is a huge debate about how 'left' they really are, and i shalln't go into that. Incidentally I don't 'support' the left or the right. I'm what you might call a floating voter. This is not a dig at socialists but I'd like to highlight a serious problem in Britain and want to hear if any one has had similar experiences.
Medical care too is provided free of charge in most cases here in the UK. I'm not wanting to kick off a debate here; but I think these factors are relveant to my query.
Although I grew up in a wealthy family and went to a posh school, I tended to socialise with people from different backgrounds (ie what you might call 'working class'). My folks were both doctors, but because they spent most of my teenage years trying to get my sister into or out of various mental institutions, my problems went unnoticed by them- they seemed to believe I was just looking for attention, and given the extremes my sister was experiencing I can hardly blame them. Because they are doctors and they failed to pick up on my BP, many of my friends (now ex-friends) wouldn't believe that I had bipolar disorder when I was finally diagnosed after my symptoms started getting serious.
Recently, a friend of mine (a gardener by trade)slated me at a party for being spoilt (you don't know how tough we have it etc etc)and because I was feeling low at the time I took his crap.
I also had serious problems getting time off when I was at university- it was a university in south wales (a heavily industrialised area) and there was a really strong socialist ethos there. Initially I really liked this, but when I tried to explain the problems I was having in order to defer a year, the dean accused me of trying to take time off because I could 'afford to' (ie I knew my parents could help me out financially)- despite the fact that I was suicidal at the time.
I've recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and have been seeing a councillor- herself from a working class background- and before I got the diagnosis she kept implying that my problems were rooted in the fact that I couldn't accept I wasn't cut out to be a doctor/lawyer/accountant- despite the fact I have never expressed an interest in being these things. I'm more interested in artistic things. I told her about my attempts to break away from the proffessions and go into the building trade but basically got a lot of shit from them because I was a "feeble ponce" (incidently I'm 6'2" and used to play a lot of rugby)even though I worked harder than them, and did a much better job. I eventually quit because of their abuse and have had many similar experiences since.
I know of friends who have succesfully integrated themselves into these sorts of jobs by affecting a westcountry accent- but I refuse to change mine- its part of who I am (I have your typical middle-calss, public school boy, hugh grant accent).
This whole thing is really starting to piss me off. If it was a working-class employee being picked on by middle-class colleagues then there would be a fucking uproar. I like normal people- its why I want to work with them- but bigotry seems to be fine in this country if it is politically correct bigotry (yes, that old chestnut!).
I've deviated from my point, which is that this sort of bigotry has been a major setback in me seeking help.
Has anyone else had a similar experience.
ps I am fully aware of what life is like in 'normal' british society and don't need to be reminded. Thanks
The social climate in the UK is very different to what you might expect if you're only exposed to it via the media, unless you've lived here for a long period of time. Labour (our current governing party), for example, is a left wing party and a number of Tony Blairs original cabinet members, and many members of the part itself, were once members of the british communist party. Obviously there is a huge debate about how 'left' they really are, and i shalln't go into that. Incidentally I don't 'support' the left or the right. I'm what you might call a floating voter. This is not a dig at socialists but I'd like to highlight a serious problem in Britain and want to hear if any one has had similar experiences.
Medical care too is provided free of charge in most cases here in the UK. I'm not wanting to kick off a debate here; but I think these factors are relveant to my query.
Although I grew up in a wealthy family and went to a posh school, I tended to socialise with people from different backgrounds (ie what you might call 'working class'). My folks were both doctors, but because they spent most of my teenage years trying to get my sister into or out of various mental institutions, my problems went unnoticed by them- they seemed to believe I was just looking for attention, and given the extremes my sister was experiencing I can hardly blame them. Because they are doctors and they failed to pick up on my BP, many of my friends (now ex-friends) wouldn't believe that I had bipolar disorder when I was finally diagnosed after my symptoms started getting serious.
Recently, a friend of mine (a gardener by trade)slated me at a party for being spoilt (you don't know how tough we have it etc etc)and because I was feeling low at the time I took his crap.
I also had serious problems getting time off when I was at university- it was a university in south wales (a heavily industrialised area) and there was a really strong socialist ethos there. Initially I really liked this, but when I tried to explain the problems I was having in order to defer a year, the dean accused me of trying to take time off because I could 'afford to' (ie I knew my parents could help me out financially)- despite the fact that I was suicidal at the time.
I've recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and have been seeing a councillor- herself from a working class background- and before I got the diagnosis she kept implying that my problems were rooted in the fact that I couldn't accept I wasn't cut out to be a doctor/lawyer/accountant- despite the fact I have never expressed an interest in being these things. I'm more interested in artistic things. I told her about my attempts to break away from the proffessions and go into the building trade but basically got a lot of shit from them because I was a "feeble ponce" (incidently I'm 6'2" and used to play a lot of rugby)even though I worked harder than them, and did a much better job. I eventually quit because of their abuse and have had many similar experiences since.
I know of friends who have succesfully integrated themselves into these sorts of jobs by affecting a westcountry accent- but I refuse to change mine- its part of who I am (I have your typical middle-calss, public school boy, hugh grant accent).
This whole thing is really starting to piss me off. If it was a working-class employee being picked on by middle-class colleagues then there would be a fucking uproar. I like normal people- its why I want to work with them- but bigotry seems to be fine in this country if it is politically correct bigotry (yes, that old chestnut!).
I've deviated from my point, which is that this sort of bigotry has been a major setback in me seeking help.
Has anyone else had a similar experience.
ps I am fully aware of what life is like in 'normal' british society and don't need to be reminded. Thanks
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I have been here before, a long long time ago and now I am back.Forgive me for not just saying what I want to say,even under a triple dose of antidepressants it is still raw and seeping and I am hesitant at revealing it as at least under the bandages around my heart I don,t have to look at how raw and wounded.My child was cleaved from my heart by his own actions. my child of ten,turning eleven...
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
Well, yes, some of my experiences share a certain degree of similarity with yours, but not as concerns BPism, although I've had some problems in that area, as well.
Second thing first, I have been cyclothymic all my life, and it's only been in the last few years that I slipped into the more extreme sort of BPism. No matter what circles I've traveled in, I always ended up with the nickname 'Smiley' and everybody was always amazed at the fact that I was always happy!! And I do give that impression, as even when depressed, I still appear to be a (gag) little ray of sunshine to the world in general. So when things went from good to worse, it wasn't apparent to those around me and when I confided that I was BP, everyone laughed it off and assured me that I'm just fine!!! LOL!!!!
As to the first thing, well, I've always been middle class -- and that, just barely -- so I've never had to worry about being thought of as a spoilt brat, in that regard!!!
But!!!
When I married, my surname became a common Jewish name, although such was not the case, as to my persuasion.
It took me a couple of years to dope out that the occasional and puzzling ill treatment I received was due to the assumption that I was Jewish and was falling prey to the bigotry of others.
This proved to be a bit of a conundrum, as my choice was to either remain mum on the subject and let the ill treatment (on that ground) continue or to voice the fact that I was NOT Jewish, which made me feel a bit as though I, too, was a fellow bigot, at least in the eyes of said bigots.
The funny part was when a Jew assumed I was Jewish. I felt more compelled, in that situation, to correct the assumption, because the subject matter at hand was usually directly tied to being Jewish.
LOLOL!!!! I met more hostility from Jews than I did from the bigots!!!! As though I was purposely trying to present myself as a Jew to the world at large!!!
Whaddaya gonna do!!? As Jerry Seinfeld once commented on 'Seinfeld', "People!!! Theyre the worst!" LOLOL!!!!