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.
Who's heard that old "snap out of it" phrase thrown in their direction? What else have we got? I being Canadian have gotten" keep your stick on the ice" a few times and others like it? Which is the worst you've heard? I only ask because it just makes me feel depressed when people don't understand and won't take the time to learn. It's not rocket science after all. I guess ignorance is the biggest problem when it comes to other people. I'm in the habit of telling people who ask my why I'm on disability the truth and some people literally take a step back as though I could infect them with bipolar. Yeesh. What have you heard that drives you nuts? Also, do you tell people that you have a mental health problem when they ask what's been wrong with you?
I tell people im disability, not strangers, its none of there business. I do tell people though im not ashamed of it, it is what it is, nothing i can do will change that.
I was at a party recently & someone asked what i do, i was going to say i was on disability but instead i smiled & said "i dont", & shrugged my shoulders, you know, it flew, she asked well what do you want to do, i said im not sure, & that was that. SO you just never know, being honest seems to work best for me.
All the best
hugs
dee
The first thing that pops into my mind with the 'keep your stick on the ice' is to come right back with, 'Why don't you shove your stick up your ass?'
Actually, I think understanding Bipolar Disorder IS almost akin to rocket science for a lot of 'norms'.
My mother is getting senile and I damn well understand what's going on. But it's still as hard as hell to put up with her, sometimes.
When it gets bad, I think to myself that this is how it probably feels to neurotypicals (norms) when dealing with me when I'm bonkers.
I don't really look for 'understanding'. It's 'acceptance' that I want.
(That usually COMES with understanding -- but it can also exist without it.)
Hahahahaha!!! I have a bad habit of fucking with people under certain circumstances!!!!
If I saw someone actually draw away from me so as not to get infected, I might say, 'You know, they're doing studies and it's starting to look like it might actually be caused by a virus that's mutating and is becoming contagious, which is why Bipolar Disorder is on the rise!!'
Hahaha!!!
I suppose I shouldn't do stuff like that, though.
It doesn't help our cause.
Yeah, I tend to tell people I have Bipolar Disorder!!
But I don't so much think of it as what's 'wrong' with me, even if they do.
Bastards.
LOL!!!!!!
I don't tell any one that I have bipolar disorder other than close family. I don't think I'm hiding it or being dishonest. I just learned in therapy about who are safe people in my life and that it really is no one's business but mine as far as who knows and who doesn't.
Only my close family members know I'm bp, and on disability, and sometimes wish I never revealed it to them. They really don't understand. They kick it under the rug.
No one else knows, I've been isolating for a long time, because I hate the first question in social situations, what do u do for a living? Now that I'm 56, I just say I'm retired, and leave it at that.
Seriously though I think that as the people who suffer from this stupid disease we should try to educate the ignorant. If they then choose to stay ingnorant I know I've given my best shot and I think at that point that they must already have their heads up their asses so there's no room for the stick. I guess I just refulse to be secretive and shy about a disease. it galls me that people hold onto such outdated thoughts and serve them up as they truth. It's most certainly a personal thing though.
Sayings...hahaha...I'm Canadian too...here's just a few I heard growing up...
"go soak your head."
"give your head a shake"
"who's kid are you...you sure as hell didn't come outta me."
"stand still so I can knock some sense into ya."
"time to roll you up in the wool blanket and lay ya down in the shower for an hour...get your clothes off."
"that's for something I didn't catch you doing. Here's another one. Don't do it again."
"what the hell happened to your grades?"
Any way ya look at it we're all different...stigmatized is just another word for noticed, acknowledged and being watched closely...or not at all.
If you don't like where yer at...depending on how old you are...there's always your thumb and the open road...adventure is the best remedy for misery and boredom...so...keep yer hand on it...'n ~smile~ once in a while...just not at anyone you deem is crazier than yourself...trouble's down that road.
~peace in~
"that crazy woman"
"that crazy white woman"
"She's not right."
"Mental illness comes from evil spirits."
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And although MIL is a nice person, she always brings up her friends' son who has another diagnosis and he is violent and I am non violent and I get very very angry but I just sit there and take it.
'cheer,up'--'keep,busy,you'll,be,fine.'
'not,better,yet?,you,need,to,change,docs!'
'it,could,be,worse'
'just,get,on,with,it'
'cop,yourself,on.'
'stop.calling,it,an,illness'
'we,don't,want,to,know'.
'if,you,could,just,stop,brooding,'
'if,he,would,only,take,his,meds'
'if,she,would,only,stop,taking,so,many,meds'
'if,she,would,only,get,her,meds,checked'
if,he/she,would,only,take,meds,on,time.
'if,she,would,just,stop,takin,meds.'
if,she,would,get,out,and,get,exercise'
'oh,my,god,you're,anorexic,doing,too,much,exercise'!
'you've,gained/lost,sooo,much,weight'
yes,to,all,of,the,above,and,you're.still,butt-ugly!