h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yes it's difficult for others, but its a whole barrel of laughs for me Every morning, or is that night? when I wake up I get down on my knees and thank my lucky stars. Did no-one see the Stephen Fry programme?..oh but everyone loves him..

The suicide rate for bipolar is I think, 30X higher than for general population..even higher than for that other barrel of laughs schizophrenia.

Yeah it's a toughie as is any sort of illness such as diabetes or MS. But one thing I can guarantee..they will not be subject to the amount of snide, passive/aggressive remarks. We are fair game. You'll come across all manner of people who are bending over backwards (if their body can do that) to be anti-racist, anti homophobia, anti ageist, anti, capitalist, anti pollutionist, pro choice, etc but oh my they just can't resist those little passive aggressive digs about mental illness.

You do get used to it though and you can at least compare notes in support groups with fellows.

I'd say the number one, undermining aspect is that once the cat is out of the bag either you've blabbed about it..or others guess..you will be defined by it..and others will feel free with impunity to make merry about it.

I'm thinking of doing a guide entry about it to warn others about revealing or not here. It's a big decision. In real life I only tell people I feel really safe with, such is the level of hostility and prejudice still.

It's a double bind. On the one hand it can help others understand you better, and possible reasons for behaviour sometimes..on the other you are fair game for sniping about something you were likely born with.

Stephen Fry did a great couple of programmes about bipolar which educated people. Even my parents. (My father describes it as a 'weakness').

This is quite an angry posting, Effers, and it makes interesting and eye-opening reading. It must be very hard to live with. Especially what you say about your father, that's terrible. It's not a weakness, any more than a physical condition is. My understanding is that it all comes down to chemistry (please feel free to correct me if this is wrong).

Thank you for sharing this

Deb

Yes it is quite angry. I was told recently by medics not to mention it again on discussion sites like this.as it will lead to various remarks made over time often not directed at you, though that will occur, but using the term 'mental illness' in a trivialising and nasty way to describe any sort of behaviour seen as bit abnormal or annoying...also it will mean people always view you through that prism.

I'm not mentioning anymore in other places but in a journal is different..especially during this NaJoPoMo thing.

I know you have diabetes. If I substituted that word for the number of times I have read here remarks about mental illness..it would be quite shocking..and rightly so.

But of course there's nothing wrong when it's used in a friendly and teasing way..like 'oh you mental' or even 'nutjob'. I'm not fanatical about it. It's when you read things that are disparaging, underhand, and frankly nasty in intention that it hurts.

The day I see the words 'diabetes', 'heart disease' 'cancer' 'MS' used in the same way, is the day I'll know we, who have to put up with this hell, have achieved full equality.

A while ago there was a thread where people were saying some stuff and I was really pleased when Dr. Zen stepped to put people right.

But the illness poisons some relationships..by no means all, and that is a hard thing to have to live with.

Sorry didn't answer your question.

Yes it is brain chemistry. It's thought to be fundamentally genetically caused.but life events can trigger it to a greater or lesser degree. My grandmother had it, but my mother although prone to depression, has never had the manic symptoms.but then she married a very stable man psycholgically who was always going to stay with her for life..they genuinely do still really love each other.

Funny thing is my Dad has a tendency to almost manic behaviour.but not out of control in any way. So maybe I got a bit from both. They are different sorts of the illness..it's a continuum.

There's a lot of very difficult symptoms I have.and I couldn't function at all without medication..but I've mentioned in the past some full blown episodes and hospitalisation..but I'm not going over it again.Besides which there'll be people reading this that might use it against me? I don't feel safe anymore on this site to talk in any detail.

Luckily I have a few really good friends in real life, really intelligent and emotionally aware people, who I love and they love me. They have the insight to understand..and love me for all my positives. They never undermine me..or make remarks like I've seen here on occassion. I feel safe and relaxed around them. They are very warm people. Bipolars have very strong emotions so emotional warmth is the best medicine..and oh sense of humour...

As well many artists having bipolar..many comedians do as well.

I get so fed up here sometimes with people misunderstanding. Luckily I have a brilliant friend here in anhaga. He's also an artist, highly intelligent..not that emotional..but very friendly..and I love his dry humour and take on things.

I always feel completely at ease with him and communication online with him is no problem.

Of course there's others here I love and feel close to..but he is a real rock and a gem for me.

Hmmm, difficult one to reply to. I think, in general, folk know about Bi-Polar as a condition, its how someone who has the condition is percieved in how they deal with it. As you're on medication of some sort, do you take it as prescribed, all the time? If not, why not? Should you really be adding alcohol into the mix? Are you due for a meds review anytime soon? If not, go see your GP and talk it through with him/her see if your meds need changing or the dose modifying?
Frankly, and no offence intended here, I don't care whether you're an artist or a street cleaner, the fact remains you have a condition that is treatable and controllable but it requires effort on both your part and the part of either the mental health team or your GP.
If things are getting bad, you need to talk to professionals, h2g2 or any other community site is not the place to get that sort of help. If all else fails there's the samaritans where you get to talk to someone in depth, in confidence and to people trained to help and more importantly, have the time to listen. If that sounds extreme, well, its no more extreme than going round getting even more wound up because folk can't help you here.
Whoops, best stop, don't want you thinking I'm getting on your case. Take care.

Effers,
I think it's a good thing to know for the rest of us. It explains perhaps why you get more distressed about things than some other people, and why you sometimes are more fragile than others.
It helps me to remember that perhaps when you are agitaded it's the illness speaking, and not always the views you have when you are in balance.
It sounds to me like you are very aware of you condition, and are taking good measures to stay as well as you can. Which is a huge achievement to me, since denial and non-compliance probably would make things so much harder, for the affected and everyone around.
So, thanks for sharing, and I'm glad you do what you do, to stay well.

I really ought to add a few positives as well. Luckily friends in real life very much appreciate those..I think it's the kind of condition that works better in real life than online. There's so much to me as a person that only really communicates in real life.and will never come across from just writing words down as posts. Online communication definitely suits some personality types much better than others.

Though there are some here who I never have a problem with. Unfortunately a couple of those have now left.

I have actually found doing this journal today really helpful for myself.

NaJoPoMo Rocks!

Thanks to all respondents.

Oh yeah the positives...there's loads..

Seeing the funny side of everything and life really being a cosmic joke, and there really is nothing to worry about in the biggest scheme of things. You see all these incredible connections to do with reality..be that Nature or consciousness with people.

A kind of Euphoria at the wonderment of being alive..

A kind of joy.

Impossible to convey, probably poetry and music are the best vehicles for that. And I seriously do thank my Lucky Stars for the privilege of some of those experiences and insights.

I don't think this culture is ideal for this condition though...