Hi, how\u2019s it going? Hope you are doing well.<\/p>\n
Have you ever compared an apple to an orange? Now, this can be taken in two different ways. I could mean literally comparing the fruit. Apples are oddly shaped and colorful, while oranges are round, and, well\u2026 orange. Apples are often tart, whereas oranges are often sweet.<\/p>\n
I could also be referring to the comparison of things that aren\u2019t on the same level as each other. Like comparing the level of difficulty of a supervisor\u2019s work to that of their employees. They are both likely to be hard, but in different ways altogether.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s one that\u2019s likely to throw you for a loop: How about comparing the lives of someone who has bipolar disorder to the lives of someone who doesn\u2019t? Most of us do it all the time. I\u2019m probably guilty of it myself. But if you honestly think about it, it\u2019s like comparing apples and oranges. It just doesn\u2019t add up.<\/p>\n
The two people have different brain chemistries and processes. They have different difficulties and accomplishments. They have different levels of functioning in certain areas of life (with some areas favoring one and some areas favoring the other.) They have different sorts of addictions (less extreme examples being caffeine or spending.)<\/p>\n
They have different pills they take to handle their problems (everywhere from aspirin to psych meds.) They have different types of jobs that they are skilled at. And they are likely to have the sorts of differences that everyone has with each other, on top of things (different tastes, personalities, and interests, for example.)<\/p>\n
You know what else is different? They have different strengths. One is a strength of perseverance through struggles, hope beyond despair, and coping skills that combat mania and depression. For the other person, their strengths will depend on the circumstances that they have lived through and what they have bothered to learn from them.<\/p>\n
There are many ways that both are similar, also. After all, we are all human and we all share some of the same traits with at least some of the people in this world. One person with bipolar disorder might have the same sense of humor as their friend who doesn\u2019t have the disorder. One typically functioning individual might have the same fears as their neighbor who has bipolar.<\/p>\n
But comparing tends to take something away from both parties. It lessens what they have been through and where they are going, and packs it into a nice, neat label that doesn\u2019t match their life at all. It\u2019s a cousin to stereotyping.<\/p>\n
Maybe we should all try to stop comparing people who have bipolar disorder to people who don\u2019t. Maybe we should stop comparing apples to oranges.<\/p>\n
What are your thoughts on this?<\/p>\n
Well, I have to go!<\/p>\n
Your Friend,<\/p>\n
Dave<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hi, how\u2019s it going? Hope you are doing well.<\/p>\n
Have you ever compared an apple to an orange? Now, this can be taken in two different ways. I could mean literally comparing the fruit. Apples are oddly shaped and colorful, while oranges are round, and, well\u2026 orange. Apples are often tart, whereas oranges are often sweet.<\/p>\n
I could also be referring to the comparison of things that aren\u2019t on the same level as each other.<\/p>\n