Why does is seem like they're abusing "Bipolar Disorder"?!
Question: Has anyone noticed lately that everyone who does something wrong seems to be Bipolar now? You see, I am bipolar, and I take offense to the abuse of my disease. I find it offensive that so many people seem to be "using" it to get away with something or be excused for the wrong they did. Like the teachers who slept with their teenage students! Or people who go shoot up other people! I for one have never even hit someone, let alone become extremely violent. And I have never even CONSIDERED sleeping with a child! I think those are cases of going and doing whatever you want to, not a case of bipolar.
I've been diagnosed for 10 years now, and the last I checked, Bipolar Disorder was a rather rare condition. And now it seems like the "new thing to be". How can 1-2% of the population all of a sudden go up to 50% seemingly, so fast? Hmmm.
If these people only knew what it was really like to suffer the uncontrollable roller coaster, they would not dare.
Answers: Has anyone noticed lately that everyone who does something wrong seems to be Bipolar now? You see, I am bipolar, and I take offense to the abuse of my disease. I find it offensive that so many people seem to be "using" it to get away with something or be excused for the wrong they did. Like the teachers who slept with their teenage students! Or people who go shoot up other people! I for one have never even hit someone, let alone become extremely violent. And I have never even CONSIDERED sleeping with a child! I think those are cases of going and doing whatever you want to, not a case of bipolar.
I've been diagnosed for 10 years now, and the last I checked, Bipolar Disorder was a rather rare condition. And now it seems like the "new thing to be". How can 1-2% of the population all of a sudden go up to 50% seemingly, so fast? Hmmm.
If these people only knew what it was really like to suffer the uncontrollable roller coaster, they would not dare.
I'm bipolar as well, and it's frustrating to see all these "oh she's bipolar" and "you must be bipolar". I hate saying this, but I blame the media. The whole Spears issue makes people think that Bipolar people just snap. Normal one second, crazy the next. I think now that people are aware of some of the symptoms, they will label everyone who is "not normal" bipolar.
People who throw around the label don't know what it's like to suffer from bipolar disorder. I agree, if they knew, they wouldn't say anything.
Because they can't do a test to prove that you have it. I have depression and when I was diagnosed, all they did was ask me questions. I could have been faking for all they knew (I wasn't). Mental illnesses have always been stigmified and they are now used as excuses for bad behavior. Bipolar can be controlled by medication, but if someone doesn't take the medication then there is no excuse. Those people cannot use the illness.
I do understand what you are going through. I have a friend of mine whose daughter has bipolar and it is sometimes are horrible train to be going through. I was reading an article a while back on MSN.com about how people misconstrue bipolar with depression too. Bipolar is extreme ups and downs. People get depressed and automatically assume they are bipolar. I for one am a manicdepressant, been doing real good for about five-six years now. It can be hard sometimes and I find it kinda like a kick in the face when some one is just down one day and they assume they are a manic. So I can definetly see where you are coming from.
Its because there are different types of bipolar and with more information coming out about what triggers it or what the signs are of each it is easier to place someone under the label. It is the same thing with ADD and ADHD.. more and more kids are being labeled as having one or the other just because they act up in class. With new information comes new diagnosis..
i take offense to. i can't become a special agent for the FBI because there is now a gun ban on people who suffer from mental disorders. also, it's looked down upon from many people for bipolar disorder sufferers to be allowed to see their kids...ya know? people are freaking nutts, it doesn't mean they are bipolar, it means they want attention and they like to kill people. did you know that there was some study that most people who commit murders DO NOT HAVE MENTAL DISORDERS? it's ******* retarded and i will never be able to follow my dreams because of idiots. seriously, i'm really stable now and i just turn 18 and i am finding out that i'm already being deprived of my free rights.
but it's like...did you know 1 in 25 american adults suffer from bipolar disorder? more people are being diagnosed with it because of genetics......it's like you have a 25% chance of having a disorder if it runs in your family and 50% if your parent or parents have it...something like that.
but it's stupid. britney spears is not bipolar in my opinion.
when you were going through episodes, did you ever talk with an accent? i didn't. media screws things up. there should be a tight ban on guns for those who are not like over a certain age. plus, the gunman at the university in illinois bought multiple guns at the same time. the person selling them should of thought it was kinda weird.
mental disorders are just being blamed because the government leaders don't want to look like they are
failing us. by the way, did you know we are labeled mentally defected?
Yes i agree.My mother is suffering from bipolar and its no joke.I my self has just been diagnosed with cyclomi somthing aparentiy it depression and hypomania. I would never use this as an excuse.
Yes it makes me mad that people who do terrible things use it as an excuse for sleeping with a child. I think in some of these other cases like the murderers it seems like more of the media that is using the bipolar excuse. Have you seen the headlines? The guy was off his meds? They are using things like this to sell what they like to peddle, fear. Personally, to me those people are psychopaths. Whether they have mania mixed in or not who knows. But, the majority of people with bipolar are not psychopaths, but will the general public believe this? NO. Better to find something to be afraid of, or some explanation so that they can validate their own sanity. By the way, I am bipolar and it more than offends me. Some of the bipolar people I know which includes members of my own family are some of the most thoughtful, socially aware and gentle people I know. Joe Blow American will not be aware of this though.
By the way, my grandfather was a speech writer for the governor of California at one time. He was a raving manic, but a good writer. I don't know if bipolars need to have the label mentally disabled. He was mensa. So was my dad. Another bipolar. So, labelling someone mentally disabled sounds like they can't think. Sometimes I think bipolar problems stem from thinking too much!
All I mean is that I think we (bipolars) should all be careful of how we talk about ourselves and should try to make others understand that we have a disability that makes us very useful. All of the bipolars I know are very intelligent and creative. We can at times be very good workers, at other times we need to take some time off. This is what makes it a disability. I understood that you knew that we can think, obviously, because you are bipolar and intelligent yourself. I am just saying maybe there should be a different term for it that doesn't sound so bad. I didn't mean to offend you:). And thanks for posting this question because it has been bothering me too lately.
Oh, and one more thing, I know it is a hard thing to have. I am not trying to glamourize it at all. Because you are right. Who would want this?