I have got Bipolar (Mental Illness) and when some people find out about it, they act like I am stupid. I feel there is still a stigma in society about mental illness. Lack of knowledge.
2007-03-29 16:10:25 · 33 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
I have Asperger's Syndrome, and I don't think people understand that a mental illness is just a difference, and it doesn't mean that you're crazy. I have a day job and I'm doing all right, plus I almost have an associates degree, so I might not be too worried about what other people think. If I know they don't understand me, than it's a waste of time worrying about what other people think. "To thine own self be true," William Shakespeare's Hamlet.
2007-03-29 16:16:30 · answer #1 · answered by super682003 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You've pretty much hit the nail of the head. People are afraid because they have no idea what is going on. See my mother is bipolar as well, my friends try to understand but since they lack the knowledge they really have no idea what's going on. Your not stupid so don't think that, just because you have a mental illness doesn't mean your not smart.
2007-03-29 16:16:50 · answer #2 · answered by Hajime 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, yes. I'm schizophrenic, and I've been told by counselors to keep it hidden when I can to others. Society is still not ready for it. I'm also bipolar, but I don't really tell others except for family, since the schizophrenic part is bad enough as it is.
Nowadays, people are kinder to those who have depression, but less kind to those with different illnesses because they believe we are a hindrance to society. Only time and further knowledge about the illnesses can make society more accepting.
That'll simply take time.
2007-03-29 16:20:57 · answer #3 · answered by AxisofOddity 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I work with people who are mentally retarded and there is a stigma in society about mental illness. People just don't know how to act around someone who has a lower I.Q. But it's just like prejudice... it shouldn't be but some people can't see what's inside the person.
2007-03-29 16:29:24 · answer #4 · answered by stoutunicorn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I act like me and people find me so funny and they think I am the life of the party and they know I say what is on my mind, and guess what I am a manic/bipolar-schizophrenic. Am I embarrassed hell no I will tell anyone and if they treat me differently then it is there problem not mine i don't need them in my life, I have plenty of friends and they treat me the same as they did the day they met me and before they found out I had this problem so no I don;t act any different around them . Me and my best friend she isn't diagnosed with anything but we act up in stores just to see how people will react, then we crack up laughing and her husband is like you 2 are nuts. We love it we've done it since high school. We will do it til we die. Live for you and be you, it isn't something you asked for so don't be ashamed!
2007-03-29 16:28:49 · answer #5 · answered by Tigerluvr 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I work with twin girls who both have bipolar and it makes no difference to me. The only way anyone at work even found out was when one lost her health insurance and couldn't get her medication. My cousin also has it and my uncle is mentally retarded, so maybe it's because I have a lot of experience with it. But, I really don't think someone's mental illness should create a fog over who they really are... (although some people are so shallow that it does..)
2007-03-29 16:14:54 · answer #6 · answered by salena1379 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Damn it!.!. It's caught up with us again?
Well sweetie.... I don't know what to say just yet. You see, it used to be called "manic depressive" but the politically correct changed it to "bipolar" because of the stigma attached to "manic depressive" so that the poor sods like you, and I wouldn't be affronted by the way people reacted to our mental illness.
It's like the word "retarded" they changed it to "mentally impaired" then had to change it to "mentally handicapped" now I hear that it just referred to as "handicapped". Four or five times they had to change the name to avoid stigmas from the general public. Now you're telling me that you are starting to get strange looks from the ignorant & the rude? The stigma is back.!.!.
I guess they're just gonna have to rename our illness so the fools & the knaves will have no stigma to mock our affliction with.
What do you think they will come up with next?
2007-03-29 16:23:57 · answer #7 · answered by the old dog 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I personally don't, but there definitely is still a bad stigma with mental illnesses. People act like you are crazy, stupid, etc. It's really ignorant of them though
2007-03-29 16:14:27 · answer #8 · answered by cupcake 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They act differently cause they have no idea what it is. Needless to say, they maybe living with someone who has Bipolar or any other mental illness but they act normal around him/her only because the person has never been diagnosed. Then again, we can't ask people to know everything. It's up to us to educate them I think.
2007-03-29 16:20:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No I don't act differently I act the same way
but some people just act out of fear!
& you dont have to ever worry really because some very clever & smart people have Bipolar
there are Judges Drs all sorts of smart people
you are probably more smarter than the average bear (yogi bear says that ) lol
2007-03-29 16:33:04 · answer #10 · answered by ausblue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋