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.

deleted_user
To all Beepers and non-Beepers alike (remember I'm a Beeper)
I am increasingly concerned that the quality and usefulness of these boards is being consistently eroded over time. As a BP-II, I have all but stopped keeping an eye on the BP forum as it is sometimes quite literally splashed with the kind of bile and vitriol that less charitable folk might call the rantings of madmen. This means that the diamonds of genuine insight and discovery are hard to spot in the rough.
In my opinion, this may in part be a reflection of the mental health of the contributors its plausible that during a dysphoric episode, the frenzy of racing thought or paranoia can manifest itself in the written word as well as in realtime interactions. However, Ive noticed similar angry, irrational and highly personal lines of attack starting to creep into Friends & Family (F&F) of late.
I believe there is a fundamental weakness in the way in which the boards are structured. Currently, there's a mele of thoughts, gripes, grief, tips, appeals for help and outpourings that cover the entire spectrum of mental illness. People often vent their spleen randomly under the heading of Advice or give/ask for advice in the Discussion threads.
Also, it seems like the same old topics are coming up time after time. The point of this forum is that it's not a live chat room - it's there as a permanent repository of shared experience and accumulated learning, therefore we should all take more care with how we file our thoughts and feelings to make them accessible to others. Topic headings such as Do you ever ..? are poor signposts to what might be valid and highly relevant content.
I appreciate the need for catharsis (especially for F&F) but perhaps this should be confined to a section unto itself for free-form expression. People often go into incredibly personal and specific levels of detail in their postings. Im not saying this is inherently wrong but that kind of granularity means the post will only be relevant to a tiny minority. If people wish to establish a lengthy dialogue of a high personalised nature, perhaps this should be done via direct messaging rather than in the public spotlight of the discussion board.
Similarly, humorous postings intended to lift the spirits and nurture a sense of solidarity could equally have their own section where they may not offend the crisis-stricken with their perceived lack of gravity or respect. And vice versa does a complete newbie to mental health reeling from the fresh diagnosis of their 12 year old child as Bipolar need to be greeted at the gates of the BP board with suicide threats from a lifelong sufferer?
Heres a contentious one should Beepers be posting on the F&F forum? I think if you are a BP who can clarify or advise or provide a balanced insight from first hand experience that will help F&F members, your contribution is immensely salient, but I fear there will be a gradual migration of Beeper trolls and attention-seekers banished from their own pages onto the relatively unpolluted F&F board over time, further diluting the value and purpose of the forum.
Am I allowed to say, as a BP, that dealing with mental illness is exhausting but dealing with people dealing with mental illness shouldnt have to be so fraught. Also, please bear in mind that many people on these boards are troubled, irrational and in a highly delicate state anger is often hurt and upset turned inward so please dont be too quick to judge or condemn.
This site really operates according to the Garbage In, Garbage Out principle. We all have a duty to one anothers health and safety to maintain the cleanliness and quality of this open source community. Heaven knows were consistently let down by the mental health system, friends, families, employers, the media somewhere among us lies the formula for alchemy and if we dont come together in the spirit of discovery and progress, it may remain buried indefinitely.
Should I file this under Discussion or Rant...? ;o)
I am increasingly concerned that the quality and usefulness of these boards is being consistently eroded over time. As a BP-II, I have all but stopped keeping an eye on the BP forum as it is sometimes quite literally splashed with the kind of bile and vitriol that less charitable folk might call the rantings of madmen. This means that the diamonds of genuine insight and discovery are hard to spot in the rough.
In my opinion, this may in part be a reflection of the mental health of the contributors its plausible that during a dysphoric episode, the frenzy of racing thought or paranoia can manifest itself in the written word as well as in realtime interactions. However, Ive noticed similar angry, irrational and highly personal lines of attack starting to creep into Friends & Family (F&F) of late.
I believe there is a fundamental weakness in the way in which the boards are structured. Currently, there's a mele of thoughts, gripes, grief, tips, appeals for help and outpourings that cover the entire spectrum of mental illness. People often vent their spleen randomly under the heading of Advice or give/ask for advice in the Discussion threads.
Also, it seems like the same old topics are coming up time after time. The point of this forum is that it's not a live chat room - it's there as a permanent repository of shared experience and accumulated learning, therefore we should all take more care with how we file our thoughts and feelings to make them accessible to others. Topic headings such as Do you ever ..? are poor signposts to what might be valid and highly relevant content.
I appreciate the need for catharsis (especially for F&F) but perhaps this should be confined to a section unto itself for free-form expression. People often go into incredibly personal and specific levels of detail in their postings. Im not saying this is inherently wrong but that kind of granularity means the post will only be relevant to a tiny minority. If people wish to establish a lengthy dialogue of a high personalised nature, perhaps this should be done via direct messaging rather than in the public spotlight of the discussion board.
Similarly, humorous postings intended to lift the spirits and nurture a sense of solidarity could equally have their own section where they may not offend the crisis-stricken with their perceived lack of gravity or respect. And vice versa does a complete newbie to mental health reeling from the fresh diagnosis of their 12 year old child as Bipolar need to be greeted at the gates of the BP board with suicide threats from a lifelong sufferer?
Heres a contentious one should Beepers be posting on the F&F forum? I think if you are a BP who can clarify or advise or provide a balanced insight from first hand experience that will help F&F members, your contribution is immensely salient, but I fear there will be a gradual migration of Beeper trolls and attention-seekers banished from their own pages onto the relatively unpolluted F&F board over time, further diluting the value and purpose of the forum.
Am I allowed to say, as a BP, that dealing with mental illness is exhausting but dealing with people dealing with mental illness shouldnt have to be so fraught. Also, please bear in mind that many people on these boards are troubled, irrational and in a highly delicate state anger is often hurt and upset turned inward so please dont be too quick to judge or condemn.
This site really operates according to the Garbage In, Garbage Out principle. We all have a duty to one anothers health and safety to maintain the cleanliness and quality of this open source community. Heaven knows were consistently let down by the mental health system, friends, families, employers, the media somewhere among us lies the formula for alchemy and if we dont come together in the spirit of discovery and progress, it may remain buried indefinitely.
Should I file this under Discussion or Rant...? ;o)
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However aggrieved I am about the sane people around me in illness..I do try and remember how difficult it was or is for them.It must hurt too.
I will never be able to take full sides with each but by virtue ( or curse ) of having BP, I am with the mentally ill first.
As for having the 'same old posts' I find that a little unfair.In real life people tend to repeat themselves too.
Also, we are BP so let us play and then we will be serious for when people need it
If the sane criticise us then we are gonna bite now and then.That's natural.
I know yr BP but remember we were sane.Once.
I guess i am confused are you complaining that people from this section are in another section?!?!
If A BEEPEER as you call them is living with or has concerns with a friend who is also BP is that not the right forum???
I am trying to figure out why you are ranting? Your post was too long for me to follow.
I do not know you or anything about you except that you wrote an extremely long and pompus post about how you believe a forum on bi-polar should be operated. You have provided several suggestions on how to spot post that you find objectionable. My suggestion would be that if you followed that advise the problem would be solved and your rant in a seperate post would not be necessary, but I certainly would not suggest that you refrain from "spilling your spleen" whatever that is supposed to illustrate for us poor mortals. This forum as I understand it is not specifically about bi-polars, but for bi-polars. And sometimes I need to know the rubyredgumdrops did once shoot her car with a shotgun so that I can put my own mood in perspective. Sorry the experiences of others, even when retrospectively funny, hold no value to you. Please refrain from suggesting censorship or restraint for people who often need to communicate with others even if in frivilous ways.
Just a thought,
Dave
My comment on the "same old qestians"
There are lots of newbies on site now days.When they come on DS,they are confused and often frightened.Maybe they haven't done any research on BP..they just come onto DS and ask "Is this normal"or "What is mania" or "how long untill I'm cured".
Many newbies have no idea what BP is about.They come on here to get a DX or for medical advise.When ,if they had done some research,they may be able to ask more pertinent questians......and I think we are getting a lot of Semi-Troll activity....not the out and out TROLL,but someone who knows they are stirring things up on purpose.
Just my thoughts.
And for the laughter.....I'd rather have fellow BPer's laughing at (with) me ,than normies
I did read your whole post and I think if you don't get any benefit from the forum you should look for another forum that fits within your guidelines. As for this one I'm glad it's here and I hope people never stop talking about what they're experiencing. Even the random posts that make no sense might connect with someone on some level. I don't expect to understand everything everyone is going through and sometimes that realization should be enough.
You don't like the way things are run? There's lots of other forums out there. You're mentally superior to us and know what we should do? Do you work for the government?