♥I am bipolar. I joke about it a lot. But some people seem to think that mental illness is basically a figment of the imagination, so I'm just curious. Please be polite, thank you.
2006-12-02 22:47:20 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
SOME people should have been the question.....sorry :)
2006-12-02 22:48:00 · update #1
I joke about it because if I can't laugh at myself, then what should I expect really.....
2006-12-02 22:49:56 · update #2
You guys are really cool! :)
2006-12-02 22:53:40 · update #3
Gurl....you are soooooooo not alone.......I am.....on Paxil..
Best thing to happen to me....what a feeling.....
Ya gotta laugh.....what else can ya do......send me a post card
from the edge....
2006-12-02 23:18:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
"He jests at scars that never felt a wound."
(Romeo and Juliet)
Some have no idea, and therefore treat it far too lightly. Some are afraid it might be contagious and find being dismissive a workable strategy, trying to make their fears small. And, as you state in your question, sometimes we lay a bit of a trap for people by joking about it ourselves. And humour, black, twisted, or otherwise, often does help.
But... an outsider shouldn't do it until they've established the right, by being a friend or showing understanding.
Terry Pratchett had it exactly right: calling a dwarf a "lawn ornament" is a deadly insult, unless you know them very well, in which case it can be a term of endearment. Then and only then.
"Are you mad?"
"I hope so. I'd hate to have this view of the world and be stone cold rational."
2006-12-03 07:10:22 · answer #2 · answered by Pedestal 42 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Fantastic question.
I'm bipolar, too and have been hospitalized & even received ECT treatments. My brother was bipolar and killed himself.
Remember when Mariah Carey checked into the hospital for "exhaustion." This was a polite way of saying she was depressed or mentally not well. The hacks at 96.5 Kiss ran endless jokes about it. So did the late night "funny guys." WHY?
We don't laugh when someone gets cancer.
My guess, is because of the stigma attached to the Prozac Nation. Many people--allegedly--sought treatment with the SSRIs like Prozac, Zolof, etc that didn't really need medication. The mainstream implied they didn't really need them. Easy for them to say. Some people think we are overmedicating. However, bipolar is NOT depression, it is far more complex and difficult to treat.
At least Ms. Carey was upfront about her problems, and personally I think that helped people coping tremendously. It is horribly difficult to accept that you may need medication for the rest of your life. It is appalling that others ridicule those seeking help and brazenly suggest they don't need medication (paging couch-jumping Tom Cruise).
I don't think it is funny at all. I would also suggest getting into yoga.
Good luck.
2006-12-03 07:08:48 · answer #3 · answered by yogineocon 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am gonna reassure you about something...Bipolar actually means that both poles left & right from your brain are working!!! Artist often encounter that...We live in a society that doesn't encourage that at all ,cause creative people are not easily manipulated. They know how to use their Godly creative side! Now If you feel different from the majority of ppl, it's because you are and that's a great thing. At least you can brag that all your brain is fully functionnal! Don't listen to what the system wants you to believe! Sometimes people like that actually end up having special powers...If you know what I mean.
2006-12-03 06:59:02 · answer #4 · answered by Sherluck 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe it is a joke anytime someone is affected by mental illness I take it seriously as all should joking about your own illness is fine if that helps you cope, but no one should ever joke about someone else's illness, that's just like making fun of someone with cancer!
2006-12-03 06:52:14 · answer #5 · answered by LesHug 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There is nothing funny about mentally illness because it runs in my family.I suffer from severe depression and generalized anxiety disorder.People that are mentally ill get a bad rap sometimes.
2006-12-03 06:49:54 · answer #6 · answered by Celebrity girl 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think it is because it sadly misdiagnosed or over diagnosed... It is so prevalent in our society these days, like ADD for example. I know it is a real, frightening thing because I myself have been through it with my Mom...
And, of course a lot of it has to do with ignorance. So many believe if you cannot see it under a microscope, it does not exist.
2006-12-03 06:53:16 · answer #7 · answered by Fluffy Rover 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it's a joke, but I don't think anyone should be treated different to anyone else. I joke with everyone, but there's a fine line between joking and hurting someone's feelings, i try to keep it awl friendly banter :)
2006-12-03 06:51:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
mental illness is very misunderstood. i am bi-polar myself. nobody understands my highs and lows. my moods change so much that half the time my family and friends get annoyed with me. i dont care, if they had my mentallity they could feel what i feel. dont live for anyone but yourself and the ones that support your illness. you will then be alright..
2006-12-03 07:01:44 · answer #9 · answered by ~~hmmmm~~ 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's a good question....I think it's due to ignorance. Some people make fun of things they don't understand, because it makes them uncomfortable. Unfortunately though, without more awareness, there's little can be done about it. Good luck......
2006-12-03 06:52:30 · answer #10 · answered by salstick 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
the opinion of anybody who doubts the reality of mental illness is not worth considering.
i will however joke about anything. no holds barred
2006-12-03 06:50:36 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋