{"id":59,"date":"2008-07-05T08:28:32","date_gmt":"2008-07-05T12:28:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bipolarcentral.com\/bipolarsupporterblog\/?p=59"},"modified":"2009-03-19T14:54:34","modified_gmt":"2009-03-19T18:54:34","slug":"stigma-and-bipolar-disorder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.bipolarsupporter.com\/bipolarsupporterblog\/stigma-and-bipolar-disorder\/","title":{"rendered":"Stigma and Bipolar Disorder"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hi,<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

How’s it going?<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

I saw something interesting that I wanted to share with you.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

A reader wrote to BP Magazine:<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Though I’ve struggled with my emotions for many years (I’m 45), I was not diagnosed with bipolar disorder II until about 10 years ago. <\/span>I’ve taken the required medications and gone to therapy, but neither of these is a substitute for what I want: <\/span>acceptance and understanding of my condition from my family and friends.. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

I have chosen to reveal my diagnosis only to a trusted few. <\/span>Knowing the very real stigma against mental illness that still exists, I have chosen not to ‘go public.’ <\/span>I don’t feel <\/span>I have the strength to overcome any rejection I might face. <\/span>Yet at t times I am desperately lonely\u2026How does one get the inner strength not to care?\u00a0 <\/span>–H.P., Kent, WA<\/span><\/p>\n

——————————————–<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Wow. <\/span>That’s some serious stuff. <\/span>It’s sad to think that in today’s advanced society that there’s still so much stigma associated with bipolar disorder. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

But yet it’s still there, and that’s why in my courses\/systems I talk about the stigma and how you have to decide whether you’re going to tell people whether you have bipolar disorder or not, like this woman was saying. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?<\/span><\/p>\n

Visit:<\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.bipolarsupporter.com\/report11<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

SUPPORTING A CHILD\/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?<\/span><\/p>\n

Visit:<\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.bipolarparenting.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?<\/span><\/p>\n

Visit:<\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.survivebipolar.net<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

But what a question, huh? <\/span>How does one get the inner strength not to care? <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

I’ve had many, many people talk to me or write to me about the loneliness associated with bipolar disorder and the <\/span><\/p>\n

desperation that comes from not telling people that they have the disorder.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

They’ve also told me about the basic mistrust of society and even of their own family and friends that has resulted when they have told and were hurt and rejected, or even just treated differently.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Many times I’ve heard the cry, ‘I just want to be ME!’<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

But this question really bothers me \u2013 How does one get the inner strength not to care?’<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

It just sounds so sad. <\/span>Like she wants to just give up but doesn’t have the strength to do it.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s hard for me to understand, because I’m always looking at the positive side of things, always encouraging you to continue fighting against the disorder and the stigma associated with it.\u00a0 Maybe you can explain it to me, because I really don’t get it. <\/span>What drives you to this kind of desperation?<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe if she took the risk and told the right people and was met with positive feedback, she wouldn’t feel this way. <\/span>Then she could expand her support system, and wouldn’t feel so lonely. <\/span>That’s the way I see it.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, my opinion may be different than yours.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

I’m not trying to simplify this thing, or try to say that her pain isn’t real, believe me. <\/span>You can tell by her letter that she’s in a lot of pain.\u00a0 And I know that the decision of to tell or not to tell isn’t made lightly \u2013 that’s why I have a whole section on it in my courses. <\/span>I know what kind of a struggle it can be.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

What I’m saying is that if you choose not to go public like this woman, you have to accept the consequences. <\/span>Then you feel like you’re carrying around a secret you can’t tell anyone except a select few family members and maybe a friend or two. <\/span>It’s a great chip on your shoulder. <\/span>But it’s your own fault, because it’s your choice, and you have to live with it.\u00a0 I’m not saying what this woman did was wrong. <\/span>But she could always un-choose it rather than complain about it.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Still, there’s that question.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Like she’s really bothered by the fact that she probably cares too much about what other people think. <\/span>Like she can’t tell them she has bipolar disorder because she’s scared of what they’d think, but then she’s bothered by the fact that she cares about that in the first place. <\/span>And maybe she’s wondering if she did the right thing.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s still all about the stigma associated with bipolar disorder, and that’s still not good. <\/span>I spend so much time, energy, and money trying to educate people about the disorder (which is my way of fighting the stigma), and sometimes I get discouraged, because I wonder \u2013 like when I read letters like this \u2013 if I’m even making a dent in the stigma.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

But I also think maybe if more people opened up about it \u2013 if more supporters and their loved ones showed good examples of managing the disorder \u2013 that the stigma would decrease. <\/span>But that would mean more people telling that they have it.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe I’m wrong. <\/span>I don’t know. <\/span>What do you think?<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

David Oliver is the author of the shocking guide \u201cBipolar Disorder\u2014The REAL Silent Killer.\u201d Click Here<\/span><\/a><\/strong> to get FREE Information<\/strong> sent via email on how and why bipolar disorder kills.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi,<\/p>\n

\n

How’s it going?<\/p>\n

\n

I saw something interesting that I wanted to share with you.<\/p>\n

\n

A reader wrote to BP Magazine:<\/p>\n

\n

Though I’ve struggled with my emotions for many years (I’m 45), I was not diagnosed with bipolar disorder II until about 10 years ago. I’ve taken the required medications and gone to therapy, but neither of these is a substitute for what I want: acceptance and understanding of my condition from my family and friends..<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nStigma and Bipolar Disorder - Bipolar Supporter Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bipolarsupporter.com\/bipolarsupporterblog\/stigma-and-bipolar-disorder\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Stigma and Bipolar Disorder - Bipolar Supporter Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Hi, How’s it going? I saw something interesting that I wanted to share with you. 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